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THE 

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES 



OF 



MASHAM 



MASHAMSHIRE; 



TOGETHER WITH 



AN ACCOUNT OF ITS SEVERAL FRANCHISES, ITS ANCIENT LORDS, 
RECTORS, PREBENDARIES, VICARS, CURATES, &c, &c. ; 



Appendixes, containing Copies of several Charters, Grants, and other 

important Documents relating to the Manor, Forest, 

Free Warren and Free Chase, Markets, Fairs, 

Prebendal Church, &c, of Masham. 

Setttlj mmurous tttljogragflw auo foooo-tut Illustrations. 



By JOHN FISHER, Esq. 

(masham). 



LONDON : 

SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., STATIONERS' HALL COURT. 

RIPON : W. HARRISON, MARKET-PLACE. 

And all Booksellers. 
1865. 



JJjebicateb 

TO THE MEMORY OF 

VICE-ADMIRAL OCTAVIUS VERNON HARCOURT, 

LORD OF THE MANOR OF MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE, 

WHO DIED THE I4.TH OF AUGUST, 1 863, 

IN THE 7OTH YEAR OF HIS AGE j 

And in grateful acknowledgment of his many inestimable virtues j the 
urbanity of his manners, and gentleness of his disposition ; his skill and 
uprightness, combined with moderation, in the dispensing of justice as a 
Magistrate 5 his liberality and considerate conduct as a landlord j his 
extreme kindness to the poor, and attention to their many wants ; and 
his unbounded munificence to charitable institutions calculated to benefit 
his fellow--man $ his patience and christian resignation when under 
affliction ; and, whilst calmly awaiting his dissolution, his entire trust 
and confidence in the merits and efficacy of the blood of his crucified 
Saviour and Redeemer. 

BY THE AUTHOR. 



ADMIEAL OCTAVIUS VEENON HAECOUET. 



The death of this estimable gentleman took place at Swinton Park, 
near Masham, on Friday, August 14th, 1863, at half-past ten in the even- 
ing. He was the eighth son of Dr. Edward Vernon, late Archbishop of 
York, who took the surname of Harcourt by Eoyal sign manual in Jan- 
uary, 1831, on his succeeding to the estates of the last Earl Harcourt. 
The gallant Admiral was born on the 26th of December, 1793, at Eox 
Castle, in Cumberland (his late father being then Bishop of Carlisle) and 
was consequently in his 70th year at the time of his death. He entered 
the navy in August, 1806, as midshipman on board The Tigre, 74, Captain 
Benjamin Hallowell, and, on attending the expedition to Egypt, in 1807, 
he witnessed the surrender of Alexandria, and was much employed in boat 
service on the river Nile. After assisting at the blockade of Toulon, and 
contributing to the destruction of the French ships of the line, Robuste 
and Lion, towards the close of October, 1809, he accompanied Captain 
Hallowell, on his promotion to Eear Admiral, into The Malta, 80, and con- 
tinued to serve with him in that ship on the Mediterranean Station, until 
the receipt of his last commission on the 11th January, 1814, co-operating 
intermediately with the troops on the south east coast of Spain, and serv- 
ing in the batteries at the siege of Jarragona. He next joined The Mid- 
grave, 74, Captain Thomas James Maling, and, while cruising in that ship 
off the coast of Italy, he landed with a party of seamen and marines near 
Piombino, where he captured a Martello Tower, and brought out, or de- 
stroyed, a convoy anchored under its protection. During the war of one 
hundred days, he served in The Amelia, 38, Captain The Honourable 
Granville Prooy, at the blockade of Elba ; and on the intelligence arriv- 
ing of the surrender of Buonaparte, after the battle of Waterloo, he was 
sent with a major of the Tuscan army to summon the town of Porto Fer- 
rajo. Quitting the latter vessel in 1816 he remained on half -pay until 
the 2nd of February, 1818, when he was appointed to the Sir Francis 
Drake, flag ship of Sir Charles Hamilton, at Newfoundland, where he ob- 
tained command on the 3rd of February, 1820, of The Drake Sloop, and 
for a short time in the same year, of The Carnation, 18, and, during that 
year, discharged the duties of surrogate at Newfoundland. He afterwards 
joined, on the 5th of June, 1824, and on the 30th of May, 1835, The Bri- 
tomart, 10, and Primrose, 18, both employed in the West Indies, from 
which station he returned to England with upwards of a million of dollars, 
in July, 1827. On the 7th of the following month he was promoted to the 
rank of Post Captain, and about the same time was selected by the Lord 
High Admiral to act as his Aide-de-Camp in the Royal Sovereign Yacht, 
on the occasion of a visit of inspection to the various seaports. On the 
26th of March, 1834, he was appointed to The North, 28, in which vessel 
he took out H. Hamilton, Esq., the British Minister, to Buenos Ayres, and 



Vi. OBITUAEY. 

was then employed in surveying the coast of Central America and Cali- 
fornia, and ultimately returned to England with a large freight. Since 
the 27th of October, 1836, he was on half -pay ; and on the 26th of Octo- 
ber, 1854, he was promoted to the rank of Eear Admiral on reserved half- 
pay, under Her Majesty's Order in Council of the 25th of June, ]851, On 
the 22nd of February, 1838, he married Ann Hoi well Danby, the widow 
of William Danby, Esq., of Swinton Park, and by her, and in her right, he 
became lord of Mashain and Mashamshire, and into the possession of 
a handsome rent-roll. Immediately on his marriage he took up his resi- 
dence at Swinton Park, which he has ever since made his principal resi- 
dence, Very soon afterwards he was placed on the commission of the 
peace for both the North and West Eidings of Yorkshire, and then be- 
came a very active magistrate for the district, and so continued until 
March, 1856, when he was overtaken by the sickness which ended in his 
death. In his magisterial capacity he was remarkable for great pains- 
taking, and for tact and discernment in arriving at the truth ; and when 
called upon to put into execution the correctional arm of the law, he ever 
tempered mercy with justice, and thus became, as he deserved to be, very 
popular throughout the district. In the year 1 818 he was appointed to the 
office of High Sheriff of Yorkshire ; and he discharged the duties of his 
office in a highly satisfactory manner, fully maintaining its dignity by his 
gentlemanly bearing and a liberal hospitality. He has ever been a great 
benefactor to the Church. He built at his own expense a very handsome 
Church and Parsonage upon his estate at Healey, near Masham, which 
he amply endowed ; also another Church at Bent Tor in Devonshire, the 
endowment of which he also considerably augmented. He also restored 
at his own cost, and in a most efficient manner, the Parish Church at 
Masham, besides contributing very largely to the funds for the erection 
of several other churches, not only in this but in other counties. He 
was likewise a liberal contributor to the funds of the several societies 
having for their object the building, enlarging, and endowing of churches 
in England, as well as the colonies ; also for promoting the employment 
of additional curates in populous places, and for promoting and encourag- 
ing the extension of a sound and religious education amongst the people. 
In the year 1858, he erected in Masham six neat and commodious Alms- 
houses for the benefit of the poor of the parish, and these he endowed by 
transferring to trustees for the benefit of the Charity, £1,775 three per cent. 
Consols, besides contributing with a princely munificence to the Eiddell 
Memorial Mechanics' Institute in Masham, the Masham Grammar School, 
the Masham Free School, the Infant School, and the Free School at Kell- 
bank near Masham, as well as to the funds of all the local Charities. 
For several years past he has regularly distributed £100 a year amongst 
the necessitous poor of Masham ; in short, his contributions to charitable 
and other objects, calculated to benefit his fellow-men, were in truth with- 
out stint, and their full extent is unknown, for he ever loved to do good 
without ostentation or publicity. He was also a kind and liberal landlord ; 
and as such his memory will ever be held dear to a numerous and devoted 
tenantry. 




MASHAM CHURCH, KORTH WEST. 



THE HISTOKY OF MASHAM AND 
MASHAMSHIHE. 




INTRODUCTION. 

HERE seems to be something in our very 
nature which causes us to look back with 
an indescribable feeling of pleasure upon 
the scenes of our childhood, and to view 
with an inexpressible delight the spots 
where we, with joyous companions like 
ourselves, spent the happiest portion of our days, freed, 
as they then were, from the cares and anxieties of after 
life : where every surrounding object seems vividly to 
call back to our minds happy reminiscences of the past ; 
and the scenes too even of our riper years, where we 
battled with the outer world with the ever varying 
successes of life : now big with hope and high expecta- 
tions, and anon depressed with gloomy fears : now on 

B 



2 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the very verge of ruin, and anon in the heyday of 
prosperity: are hardly less the objects of our interest, 
and afford us, after they are past and gone, useful reflec- 
tions, how we escaped the threatened evil, and in what 
manner we accomplished the good. The places too, 
where our forefathers, and those whom we loved best 
here on earth "lived, and loved, and died"; the church 
where they worshipped, the altar at which they were 
joined together in holy wedlock, the baptismal font at 
which they, with ourselves, were received into commu- 
nion with Christ's church here on earth; and the very 
graveyard in which their bodies now lie mouldering in 
the dust, and 

Into whose furrows shall we all be cast,. 

In the sure faith that we shall rise again, 
At the great harvest, when the Archangel's blast 

Shall winnow, like a fan, the chaff and grain, 

(LONGFELLOW) 

are equally the objects of our fond affections. The fol- 
lowing lines, from one of Henry Kirke White's earliest 
productions, is so very apposite to my own feelings upon 
the subject, as here expressed, that I am induced to 
introduce them here. 

Pictured in memory's mellowing glass, how sweet 
Our infant days, our infant joys to greet ; 
To roam in fancy in each cherished scene, 
The village church-yard, and the village green, 
The woodland walk remote, the greenwood glade, 
The mossy seat beneath the hawthorn's shade, 
The whitewashed cottage, where the woodbine grew, 
And all the favourite haunts our childhood knew ! 
How sweet, while all the evil shuns the gaze, 
To view the unclouded skies of former days ! 

Such being the feelings which I am persuaded pervade 
the breast of all, it is unnecessary to make any apology 
for thus attempting to trace the past history of their 
childhood's home, or the place of their adoption, which- 
ever it may be* 



INTRODUCTION. 



It is not intended in these pages to indulge, on the 
one hand, in the diy and often contradictory speculations 
of the antiquary, for that would tend to puzzle and em- 
barrass the general reader, rather than instruct and 
interest him; nor, on the other hand, to present him 
with a mere "fancy's sketch, " although the richness and 
acknowledged beauty of the scenery of Mashamshire, 
with its historic reminiscences, would afford abundant 
scope for the imagination and pen of a Poet. The object 
of these pages is far otherwise, namely, to give a plain 
and unvarnished account of the past history of the 
place, as far at least as it is known, written in plain 
and intelligible language, so as to be readily understood 
by the ordinary reader. 




LOW FORS, IS HAYDALE-SIDE. 



4 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



DERIVATION OF THE NAME OF MASHAM. 



With regard u to the name of Masham, happily it is 
not, like the names of other places, involved in much 
mystery, and is consequently of a very easy solution. 
As far back as we can trace, it has been written as it 
is now invariably pronounced, namely, Massam or Mass- 
ham (but mostly in the former fashion, and not as now 
Ma-sham) ; Mass was then spelt with a double ss, as it 
ought to be. In Domesday Book, which was compiled 
by the direction of William the Conqueror, and was 
completed a.d. 1086, it is spelt Massan, the termina- 
tion ham having been turned into an by our old enemies 
the Danes, * who, previous to the Conquest had over- 
run and possessed themselves of this district, and altered 
the terminations of the names of many places in it to 
suit the genius of their own language. The original 
termination of the name of Massam, was, however, very 
soon resumed, as appears by all the subsequent ancient 
documents connected with the place. 

The word Massham is derived from the two words 
Mass and ham. The word Mass f originally implied 
only a religious festival, and it was in this sense used 
long before the introduction of the sacrament now known 
by the name of the mass, in the word Christmas, which 
signified the festival of the Nativity of Christ. By 
degrees, however, it came to be used for the church-ser- 
vice, and from its signifying the church-service in general 

* The powerful Gospatric, who was the Lord of Masham town at the 
time of the Conquest, was a Dane. There is also every reason to believe 
that the valiant Earl Si ward, another Danish chieftain, had one of his seats 
within this parish in the time of Edward the Confessor. For an account 
of these lords, see post. 

f Archdeacon Churton, in his " Early English Church" says, " Mass, in 
the old English or Saxon language, meant a feast — the holy feast of the 
Lord's Supper." 



DERIVATION OF NAME. 5 

it came at length to denote the communion-service, or 
mass, in particular ; and the word ham (which is Saxon) 
signified a village. Thus we see that the word Masham 
properly signifies the village, or place where the religi- 
ous festivals of the church are celebrated. 

This name was no doubt given to the place on the 
original building of the church here, in the Saxon era, 
some ten or twelve hundred years ago at the least, and 
that too, in the place of some other name of heathenish 
origin, which had been given to it by our pagan fore- 
fathers, but now passed into oblivion, like many other 
things connected with Masham and its church, which, 
if still existing — 

" What tales could they tell, 
Of the merry peals rung on the old church bell ; 
How recount they the scenes, when the yeoman or lord 
Was wed, or was laid 'neath the soft green sward." 




6 MASIIAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



LOCAL DESCRIPTION OF MASIIAM AND 
NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

The Parish of Masham is situate on the banks of the 
river Yore, at the southern extremity of the North 
Riding of Yorkshire, and forms the boundary line 
between the North and West Ridings of that County. 
Protected on the north by the Gebdykes-hills, and on 
the south by the range of hills, of which Nutwith is the 
chief, that portion of the Parish lying to the east forms 
a rich and fertile vale ; whilst the western portion, 
which extends to, and takes in the extensive moorlands 
to the west, where 

" To his cackling dames, 
On blooming heather and secret lawns dispersed — 
The gor-cock calls the sultan of the grove," 

is less fertile and more bleak and rugged in its character. 
Abounding in every part in hill and dale, and in wood 
and water, Mashamshire presents an endless variety of 
the most picturesque and striking landscapes. 

"Here hills and vales, the woodland and the plain, 
Here earth and water seem to strive again ; 
Not chaos-like, together crush'd and bruis'd, 
Bat, as the world, harmoniously confused : 
"Where order in variety we see, 
And where, though all things differ, all agree." 

POPE. 

The hills — as they recede from the western moors 
(where they rejoice to their very summit in the purple 
heather), and approach towards the town of Masham, 
— although still bold in outline, lose much of their 
mountainous character without becoming tame, and 
with the valleys below, present a rich and luxuriant 
appearance, at the same time affording abundance of 
food for both man and beast ; whilst many lesser dells — 
which intersect it in different directions, here and there 



MASHAM AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 7 

assume the form of deep and rugged ravines* — serve to 
mark the violent convulsions which nature has under- 
gone in these parts — the effect of volcanic eruptions, 
which 

" Down the vales in masses threw, 
Crags, knolls, mounds, and confusedly hurl'd 
The fragments of another world!" 

and contrast the more strongly with the adjoining valleys. 
It is, however, its woodland scenery, with its exube- 
rant foliage, for which Mashamshire stands pre-eminent. 
Few places, indeed, can vie with it, either as to the 
quantity or the grandeur and magnificence of its forest 
trees, " all tinged with varied hues,' 7 especially the oak, 
M the king of the forest," which here grows to an amaz- 
ing size, and contributes largely to the supply of material 
for the "wooden walls of old England." When viewed 
from the distant hills, on approaching it from Bedale or 
Kipon, the Town with its lofty spire, whose " silent 
finger points to heaven," presents the appearance of 
being situate in the midst of a vast forest, backed with 
a, double range of lofty hills, with here and there only, 
patches of land, and the more prominent of the villages 
and houses peeping above the trees, with the silvery 
waters of the Ure, gliding slowly and majestically on in 
its winding course at the foot of the valley, giving grace 
and dignity to the landscape. 

" Here waving woods — a mass of living green — 
With varied shade diversify the scene ; 
Flowers of all hues perfume the haunted dell, 
Where streams descend, and bubbling fountains dwell j " 

"And ever, as the summer sun goes down, 
From bank to bank, amidst yon leafy bower, 
The woodland songsters trill harmonious notes: 
Till every tree that crowns the verdant steep, 
Or shades the stream, that flows in amber light, 
Sends forth its melody." 

* Quarry-gill and Arnagill, or Eagle's-gill, are especially worthy of notice, 
and ought to be visited by every tourist. 



8 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Interesting as Mashamshire may be to the lovers of 
the beautiful in nature, it is not the less so to the lovers 
>{ antiquity. To use the language of Professor Phillips 
— in his " Rivers, Mountains, and Sea-coasts of York- 
shire," when speaking of Masham — " it is full of anti- 
quarian reliques;" reliques, as will be hereafter seen, 
embracing the Early British, the Roman, the Anglo- 
Saxon, the Norman, and the Mediaeval periods of our 
history — besides being surrounded on all sides by, and 
in the immediate vicinity of the ruins of innumerable 
castles and abbeys, which stand like monumental pillars 
in the stream of time, inscribed with the names of 
England's native chivalry and early hierarchy, to per- 
petuate their patriotic deeds and works of piety. 

, " I do love these ancient ruins — 

"We never tread upon them, but we set 

Our foot upon some reverend history ; 

And, questionless, here in this open court, 

Which now lies naked to the injuries 

Of stormy weather, some men lie interred 

Who loved the Church so well, and gave so largely to't 

They thought it should have canopied their bones 

Till doom's-day. But all things have their end, 

Churches and Cities :" — Webster's Duchess of Malfi. 

For instance, at Aldburgh Hall, we have the site and 
groundworks of an ancient castle, supposed to have been 
a Roman fortress, and which, very soon after the Con- 
quest, was one of the granges belonging to the monks 
of Fountains. 

At Tanfield, we have the remains of Tanfield Castle, 
which was at a very early period the property of the 
knightly families, the Gernegans and the Fitzhughs, by 
the latter of whom it was carried in marriage, early in 
the thirteenth century, to the equally knightly family of 
the Marmions, whose remains lie buried in the Maud 
Marmion Chantry (founded by her, a.d. 1343) in the 
adjoining church, where are monumental effigies of some 
of the Marmions. 



MASHAM AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 9 

" But now th' unsightly brier grows, 
Where once in gilded bower, 
The Queen of Beauty trained the rose — 
Herself a fairer flower." 

At Snape, we have another castle, which was anciently 
the seat of the Fitz-Randolphs, Lords of Middleham, 
and afterwards of the Nevilles, Lords Latimer. 

" There is a spirit brooding o'er these walls, 
That tells the record of a bye-gone day ; 

When, 'midst the splendour of thy courtly halls, 
A pageant shone, whose gorgeous array, 
Like Pleasure's golden dream, has passed away ; 

Where Beauty's smiles, and willing graces, lent 
The witching radiance of their love-lit ray; 

And from the scene a mingled strain was sent 

Of music, laughter, festive song, and merriment." 

Raglan. 

In the neighbouring church at Well, is an Elizabethan 
monument of John Neville, the last Lord Latimer 
(1577), as, also, a brass of Dorothy Neville, the prede- 
cessor of Queen Catherine Parr, in Lord Latimer's bed 
and affections, and the mother of the Lord above men- 
tioned. 

Well church has been recently restored, and has, 
consequently, lost much of its ancient character, partic- 
ularly in the interior. There was a curious representa- 
tion of the Almighty in stained glass, with the arms of 
Neville on his breast. This has disappeared! If yet 
entire, it should be restored to its old place in the ves- 
try window. 




NEVILLE. 



10 



MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



At Clifton Castle, we have the site of the ancient 
Castle of the Scropes, Lords of Mashamshire — 

" Its huge old halls of knightly state, 
Dismantled lay and desolate." 




CLIFTON CASTLE. 



In the adjoining parish of Kirkby Malzeard, we have 
what Pennant, the naturalist and antiquary, describes 
as " the remains of Mowbray's Castle-hill, which are 
unquestionably Roman; a square defended on one side 
by the steep of the hill, on the other by a dyke and 
deep ditch on the outside;" referring to one of the 
many castles of Roger de Mowbray, one of the great 
and early Lords of Mashamshire, but of which castle 
not one stone is now left upon another. 



MASHAM AOT ' NEIGHBOURHOOD. 11 

" Where is mighty Mowbray's Hall, 

The Chieftain's voice — the clang of war; 
The tower — the battlement so tall, 
The Beacon naming from afar? 

* . # * * 

'Tis gone, and merely left a name, 
Gone like the meteor's rapid light. 

* * * * 

The pride — the strength — the dread array, 
The feudal lord — the warlike throng, 

The Castle towers have past away, 
Save in historic page or song." 

A little further distant is Ripon Minster, where rest the 
bones of St. Wilfrid ; and near to it is Fountains Abbey 
(of world-wide fame, and therefore needs little descrip- 
tion), which was founded a.d. 1132, and to which the 
Lords of Mashamshire were great benefactors. Here 
we find 

"The fair wrought shaft all ivy-bound, 
The tow'ring arch with foliage crowned, 
That trembles on its brow sublime, 
Triumphant o'er the spoils of time." 

Bloomfield. 

At Bramley Grange and Pott Grange, the monks of 
Fountains had granges, in addition to the one they had 
at Aldburgh, already alluded to. Pott Grange is remark- 
able as being the birthplace of William Ascough, who 
became Bishop of Salisbury, and was murdered by the 
mob in Jack Cade's insurrection, on the 29th June, 
1450, as well as of others of the same name and family, 
who were Lord Mayors of York. At Colsterdale, the 
monks of Jervaux had also a grange, and where mines 
were worked as early as the reign of Edward L* 

At Bedale, we have the site of a castle, which was the 
residence of, and is supposed to have been founded by 
Brian Fitz Alan, Earl of Arundel, a younger brother 
of the Earl of Richmond. In the church is the effigy 

* Sir Walter Scott, in his Ivanhoe, makes Prior Aymer, of Jervaux, an 
important personage. 



12 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE 



of Brian Fitz Alan, as, also, a portion of an ancient 
Saxon tomb, and in the churchyard are the remains of a 
Saxon cross. 




JERYAUX ABBEY. 



On the very border of Mashamshire is Jeryaux Ab- 
bey, which was originally founded a.d. 1144, at Fors, 
in Wensleydale, by Akarius Fitz Bardolph, an illegiti- 
mate brother of Alan Rufus, an early Lord of Masham- 
shire, but was, ad. 1156, removed to its present situation, 
when it received considerable benefactions from the then 
Lord of Mashamshire. 

" Here science calmly rear'd its laurelled brow, 
And learning sheltered in the sacred pile, 
Asylum soft; where toiled the busy pen, 
Transcriptive, volumes multiplied : ere yet 
The metal type, and ponderous moving press 
Had lent their magic art to literature." 

At Coverham,f we have another abbey of considerable 

t Coverdale has the honour of being the birthplace of Miles Coverdale, 
the English Reformer and Bishop of Exeter. 



MASHAM AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 13 

celebrity, which was founded by Ranulph, the son of 
Robert Fitz Ralph, the Lord of Middleham. 

" Where now the grass exhales a murky dew, 
The humid pall of life — extinguished clay, 

In sainted fame the sacred fathers grew, 
Nor raised their pious voices but to pray. 

Where now the bats their wavering wings extend, 
Soon as the gloaming spreads her warning shade, 

The choir did oft their mingling vespers blend, 

Or matin orisons to Mary paid. 

Byron. 

It is remarkable that in the churchyard at Coverham, 
one can neither see the church nor hear the bells. The 
ground descends so rapidly from the church, that at 
the bottom of the bank the church cannot be seen, whilst 
the noise of a water-mill, which is close by, prevents 
one from hearing the sound of the bells » 




MIDDLEHAM CASTLE. 



At Middleham we have another castle, which has 
been rendered famous in history by its many mighty 
possessors. 

It was founded a.d. 1190, by Robert Fitz Ralph 
(grandson of Ribald, one of the followers of William the 



14 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Conqueror), who was the third Lord of Middleham. 
Middleham Castle came to the Nevilles by " the fair and 
gentle" Mary, daughter of Ralph Fitz Randolph, who 
married Robert de Neville, son of the Lord of Raby, 
whose grandson, " the Peacock of the North," 

" in bold prosperity, 
Of colours manifold and bright, 
Walked round, affronting the daylight." 

Wordsworth. 

From this marriage descended the Earls of Westmore- 
land, who thus becoming possessed of Middleham Castle, 
it became the favourite residence of the powerful Nev- 
illes, who acted an important part in the public affairs of 
this country in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. 
Ralph Neville, a younger brother of the Lord of Mid- 
dleham, was the hero of the battle of Neville's Cross in 
1346. John, Lord Neville, who died in 1388, highly 
distinguished himself in the wars of Scotland, France, 
and Turkey. Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmoreland, 
who succeeded him, was the betrayer of Archbishop 
Scrope and his principal supporters, in 1405. He is a 
principal character in Shakspere's " King Henry IV." 
But the most celebrated of the owners of Middleham, 
was Richard, Earl of Warwick, " the setter up and 
plucker down of kings." Here, the great " Kingmaker" 
frequently had for his guest Edward IY. After the 
death of Warwick on the field of Barnet, in 1471, 
Richard, Duke of Gloucester, afterwards Richard III., 
who married Warwick's youngest daughter, came into 
possession of Middleham, and often resided at the Cas- 
tle,* where his only son was born in 1473. In the 
language of W. G. M. J. Barker, in his ' Three days of 
Wensleydale,' " There dwelt the mighty Earl of Salis- 
bury and his yet mightier son — the renowned " King- 

* Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., in his ' Last of the Barons' says, " Middleham, 
not Windsor, nor Shene, nor Westminster, nor the Tower, seemed the Court 
of England " at this time, to such a state of importance had it then been 
risen by- its mighty owners. 



KIVEHS, BKOOKS, ETC. 15 

maker/' Warwick. There, too, dwelt Richard, Duke of 
Gloucester (Warwick's son-in-law), and England's third 
Richard ; and there, that monarch's only son, Edward 
Prince of Wales, was born 1473, and died 1484. c The 
White Rose' early drooping." And he might have 
added that it was from hence that the Earl of Salisbury 
marched through Craven, at the head of 4000 men, 
belonging to this district, to the battle of Bloreheath, in 
1459. And further on he adds, " Altogether, the 
castle, by historic recollections, is rendered one of the 
most interesting in the north of England. As we pace 
its deserted courts, or stand within its roofless walls,, 
imagination may well recall the by-gone. The trumpet 
sounds — the armour clashes : — the gorgeous Edward — 
the munificent Richard — fair Anne of Warwick — her 
Duchess sister — people these desolate rooms. Lady y 
knight, damoiselle, and damoiseau, flit past us in bril- 
liant pageantry. * * * Anon, the scene 
changes : — night hovers over the castle — the young moon 
vainly struggles with the dim clouds — torches supply 
their place — there are guards and a prisoner — we hear 
the death axe fall on the unhappy Falconbridge : — we 
start from our day-dream — all are gone: — feasters and 
sufferers — nobles and soldiers — we are standing hi a 
banquet-hall deserted, and the jackdaw's cry awakes the 
echoes of the trumpet's sound." 




1G 



MASH AM AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 



And in near proximity to it is Bolton Castle, remark- 
able as having been for about two years the prison-house 
of the unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots, previously to 
her removal to Tutbury Castle, in Staffordshire. 




BOLTON CASTLE. 



It was at Bolton Castle that the Duke of Norfolk made 
his fatal overtures to the Queen, which led to his death on 
the scaffold. During the civil wars, it was long defended 
for the king by Lord Scrope, and a party of Richmond- 
shire militia, against the Parliamentary forces, but ulti- 
mately on the 5th of November 1645, surrendered by 
them on honourable terms. In the meantime, however, 
they no doubt sang lustily — 

" Our Donjon tower is stout and tall, 
Each rampart mann'd and steady ; 
And loyal hearts from every wall, 
Shout ' Roundheads? we are ready !" 




p—t 



RIVERS, BROOKS, ETC. 17 



RIVERS, BROOKS, AND BECKS. 

Mashamshire is watered by the river Yore and its 
tributary, the Bourne, together with several other moun- 
tain streams which empty themselves into the latter. 

The principal and most important stream is the Yore. 
There has been much needless controversy at different 
times as to the etymology of " Yore." There can be no 
doubt, however, but that in the time of the Romans, it 
was called " Urus," as behig descriptive of its rapidity. 
Such was, and still is, the characteristic of the Yore, 
before, at least, - it reaches Mashamshire — the Latin word 
" Urus" signifying a beast like a bull (that animal being 
at that day remarkable for its impetuosity and swiftness) 
is, therefore, very applicable to such a river — hence the 
name " Ure" or " Eure". The Saxons, however, as was 
common with them in their day, prefixed the letter J to 
it, and by otherwise altering the Roman name, by drop- 
ping the Lathi termination us, to suit the peculiar genius 
of their own language, called it " Jer," or " Jor," or 
" Jore," rather from the sound than from strict ortho- 
graphy. Hence we have " Jore-Yallis," as inscribed on 
the tombs in Jervaux Abbey, and the present name of 
Jervaux (the Normans having hi their turn changed 
the termination " vaiiis" a vale, hito " vaulx" or " vaux," 
as we now have it). Thus we see how the names " Ure," 
p Eure," " Jer," " Jor," and " Jore," have sprung from 
the Roman name " Urus." Lastly, the Danes turned 
the J hito Y, the J hi their language having the sound 
of the English Y. Mr. Barker, before alluded to, who 
it will be remembered, used, when living, to date his 
poetical and other effusions from " The Banks of the 
Yore" (and was an advocate for the name of " Yore"), 
says this — " From all preserved documents, Papal 
Bulls, Royal Charters, Feudal Grants, and family papers, 
which I have hitherto investigated, as well as in the 

c 



18 MASHAM AKD MASHAMSHIRE. 

local pronunciation, I consider my orthography justified, 
and adhere to " Yore." I can only say in answer to this, 
that although I certainly have not had the advantage of 
inspecting any " Papal Bulls" (and I cannot see what 
the Pope or Papal Bulls could have to do with the Yore) 
I have carefully examined many of the other early doc- 
uments alluded to, and until within a comparatively 
recent period, I have invariably found it called " Jor" or 
" Jore." For instance, Earl Alan and Roger de Mow- 
bray, hi their grants, call it " Jor" or " Jhor" ; " Yore" 
does not appear until more modern times, and is evidently 
a Danish corruption of " Jore." See page vi. of the 
preface to Worsaae's Danes and Norwegians as to this.* 
The explanation is the Danes wrote it Jore and pronoun- 
ced it Yore, so both names are right. By whichever of 
these names it is called, whether the Saxon " Jore," or 
the Danish or more modern " Yore," it loses it at Ouse- 
burn, where it is joined by, and unites with the Swale, 
and the insignificant Ouse, and taking the name of the 
u Ouse," it becomes the greatest stream in Yorkshire, 
and on its being again augmented by the Derwent, it 
becomes the mighty Humber. There can be little doubt, 
however, but that in ancient times, the Yore, or Jor, or 
Eure, retained its own name as far as York, and that 
York derived its present name from it,f York being 
formerly called " Eurewic," and Yorkshire u Eurewick- 
scire." Even so late as a.d. 1285, it was called " Jor" 
as far as York, as appears by a charter of that date, of 
Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, Lord of the Barony of 
Knaresbrough and Manor of Aldborough, by which he 



* 



That learned author there says, " J has the sound of the English Y, as 
in Jarl (Yarl, Earl) Jorvik (Yor-vik, York)." Many instances will also be 
found in the course of these pages where the letter Y is substituted for both 
G and J, as in " Yven" instead of " Given." 

t Mr. Worsaae, in his ' Account of the Danes and Norwegians in England/ 
at page 32, says that the Danes called York ' Jorvik/ that is, they wrote 
it ' Jorvik/ but as stated in the preface to that learned work, they pro- 
nounced it 'Yorvikj' "hence," he says, " it is plain that the form ' York/ now 
in use, is derived." 



RIVERS, BROOKS, ETC. 19 

gave to the monks of Fountains, a passage on the waters 
of Jor [not Ouse or even Yore] from Boroughbridge to 
York, free from tolls, passage, or pontage. 

Yore takes its rise at a place called the Lady's Pillar, 
in the mountain range which divides Yorkshire on the 
west from Westmoreland. Camden thus incidentally 
speaks of the head of the Yore : " On the side of the 
country next to Lancashire, is such a dreary waste and 
horrid silent wilderness among the mountains, that certain 
little rivulets that creep here are called by the neighbour- 
hood • Hell-becks/ q. d., rivers or streams of hell, and 
especially that at the head of the Ure, which runs under a 
bridge of a single rock, in so deep a channel as to strike 
beholders with horror. In this part the goats, deer, and 
stags of extraordinary size, with branching horns, find a 
secure retreat." The Yore, 

" rolling far below — 
Here swift as time, there still and slow ; 
O'ershadowed here with arching bowers, 
There sweetly fringed with summer flowers." 

Proceeding hence, it receives in its course the many tor- 
rents collected from the sides of Shunor Fell, Widdale Fell, 
and Dodd Fell, and thus becomes a considerable volume 
before it reaches Hawes. Still gathering in its onward 
course down the picturesque and romantic Yale of Wen- 
sleydale, at Hardraw Scaur, it is augmented by a moun- 
tain stream, the whole body of which takes a sudden 
leap of ninety-nine feet over the rocks, forming a massive 
column of water projected from the edge of a rock, so as 
to detach itself completely from the strata beneath, and to 
plunge without dispersion or interruption into a black 
and boiling cauldron below, and in the huge cavern thus 
formed behmd the cascade (which is easy of access), 
hawks and jackdaws build their nests. Rushing still on- 
ward, after receiving the overflow of the lake Simmer- 
water, the whole body of the river takes a precipitate leap 
over two ledges of rock, one above and the other below 



20 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the bridge at Aysgarth Force ;* thence passing Wensley, 
Middleham, and Jervanx Abbey, it assumes a more 
tranquil aspect, and passes Clifton Castle and Masham, 
where it becomes a magnificent stream, and the scenery 
remarkably picturesque and beautiful. On its reaching 
that romantic spot Hackfall, it has again assumed its 
impetuous career, and dashing from rock to rock passes 
on past Tanfield, Kipon, and Boroughbridge, to Ouse- 
burn, where, as has been before described, it drops its 
name, and takes that of the insignificant Ouse. 

John L eland, the famous antiquary, who visited this 
place in the reign of Henry VIII., hi his "Itinerary," 
which was begun by him about a.d. 1538, thus speaks 
of the Ure: — " Ure cummith thrughe Wencedale acl- 
joininge to Bishopsdale. The hed of Ure in a mosse 
about a myle above Coteren-hill is about 14 miles above 

Middleham, much westwarde All the top of Co- 

terene hill and somewhat farther is hi Bichmondshire, 
and at the utter parte of the hill or thereabout is a beck 
called Hell-gille, because it runnithe in such a deadley 
place. This gill commithe to Ure and is divider of 
Bichmont and Westmerlandshire. .... There is no very 
notable Bridge on Ure above Wincelaw Bridge, a mile 
above Midleham and more Bainbridge is above 



* Mr. W. G. Barker, in his ' Three days of Wensleydale,' thus speaks of 
Aysgarth Force: "The Force may be strictly termed magnificent. The 
whole body of the river rushes rapidly over an abrupt descent, partially 
broken into three steps, and falling with stunning roar into a deep cauldron, 
over which, rainbowed spray, like April shower clouds, continually hangs. 
It flashes onwards, foaming and thundering along the irregular sheet of- 
limestone, occasionally subsiding into calm, glassy pools, but for the most 
part boiling and hissing tumultuoasly around the broken rocks that seem 
vainly endeavouring to arrest its speed. On both sides the river, are grim, 
impending cliffs, that threaten with destruction any adventurous explorer of 
the water's margin. Trees and brushwood cover their summits, and above 
lie green fields, invisible from below. Wild flowers spring from the chinks, 
and ivy and blossoming creepers festoon both branch and crag." Taking 
Aysgarth Force, with its picturesque banks, altogether, it is one of the most 
beautiful waterfalls in the county. 



RIVERS, BROOKS, ETC. 21 

Wencelaw Bridge, Aiskar Bridge * above it, where Ure 

Ryver faullethe very depe betwixt 2 scarry Rokkes 

There be a greate number of Hopes or small brooks that 
cum into eche syde of Ure out of the Rokky mountayne 

or evar it cum to Midleham The Bridge over Ure 

by Midleham is but of Tymbar About a myle be- 

nethe Gervalx Abbey is a great old Bridge of stone on 
Ure, caullvd Kilsram Bridge. Then about 4 miles to 
Maseham Bridge of Tymbar a little benethe Masseham 
and YI miles lower north Bridge at the hether end of 
Ripon, it is of YII arches of stone. And a qwarter of 
a myle or lesse lower Hawike Bridge of 3 arches. Skelle 
commithe in betwixt thes 2 Bridges From Midle- 
ham to Wenslaw about a mile up ther is a great Bridge 
of stone over it [Ure] made many yere shis by a good 

person at Wincelaw callid Alwine And or ever I 

cam to West Tanfield I passed by Ferry for lak of 

Bridge The Tounlet of West Tanfielde standith 

on a cliving ground hard by Ure, a Ryver of colour and 
the morish nature of the soil of Wencedale from whens 

it cummith The fair Bridge of 3 or 4 arches that 

is on Ure at Wencelaw a mile or more above Midleham 
was made 200 year ago and more by one caullyd Alwine 
Parson of Wencelaw." 

The next stream of importance is the Bourne or Burn, 
which L eland says, " risethe at a place by West in the 
West hills caullid moreheads and then goithe into Ure 
a little benethe Massenham Bridge and Town on Ure. 

Agayne the mouthe of this on the othar syde of 

Yore Ryver lyethe Aldeburg Yillage. ...... At the other 

ende of Masseham I passed over a fan' Ryver called 
Bourne. It goith hito Ure a little byneth the Bridge." 

Short as this description of L eland's is of the Bourne, 
it is more curious than exact. It takes its rise on the 
Masham moors, and proceeding thence past Colsterdale- 
house, Gollinglith foot, Brearybank - wood, Leighton- 

* Aysgarth. 



22 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

bridge, Healey Cotton-mill, Shaw's Bridge, Swinton-mill, 
Swinton-bridge, through Bourne holme, to low Bourne 
bridge, and then empties itself into the river Ure, taking 
in in its winding course the several becks or streams of 
Black Gutter beck, Spruce-gill beck, Gin-pit beck, Slea- 
gill beck, House-gill beck, Low-gill beck, Brown beck, 
Birk-gill beck, How-gill beck, Arnagill beck, Agill 
beck, Grimesgill beck, Pott beck, Sole beck, Den beck, 
and Swinney beck, all of which take their rise on the 
several moors of Colsterdale moor, Ilton moor, and 
Ellingstring moor, all within Mashamshire. 

These several rivers and becks are several miles in 
extent, and, abounding in every description of fresh 
water fish — especially the trout, the smelt, and the gray- 
ling — afford abundance of sport to the peaceful disciples 
of Izaak Walton,* who invariably receive a ready and 
hospitable welcome from the Lord and Lady of Mas- 
hamshire. 



EXTENT AND POPULATION. 

The boundaries of Mashamshire, although apparently 
sufficiently defined in the ancient grants, have several 
times been the subject of dispute, and consequently of 
litigation. About the year 1551, it will be hereafter 
seen, a dispute arose between Sir Christopher Danby, 
the then Lord of Mashamshire, and the Earl of Len- 
nox, as Lord of East Wilton, as to the boundaries of 
their respective manors, and was the subject of litigation 
before " the Council of the North." 

* To such of the " gentle art " as are unacquainted with the description of 
flies to be used for fishing in these streams, I may mention that Jackson's 
' Practical Fly-fisher,' written by an experienced angler in these rivers, will 
be found exceedingly useful to them in the selection (or making if need be) 
of the flies they will require. There is also a valuable work, published by 
A. Johnson and Co., Ripon, entitled « British Angling Flies,' by Michael 
Theakston, of Ripon, which is well worthy of perusal by the followers of 
Izaak Walton. 



EXTENT AND POPULATION. 23 

In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, another dispute 
arose between the same Sir Christopher Danby, as Lord 
of Mashamshire, and Edward Earl of Derby, the then 
Lord of Kirkby Malzeard, as to the boundary line be- 
tween those two parishes. The matter in dispute was 
principally as to the right to a certain portion of Nut- 
with, which being valuable for deer-stalking, on account 
of the undulating nature of the ground, was claimed by 
both parties. The matter was ended by an award 
(dated the 5th October, 12th Elizabeth, a.d. 1570) 
made therein by Sir Richard Shirborne, of Stoneyhurst, 
knight ; William Tankard, of Boroughbridge ; Pobert 
Shirborne, of Catterall; and William WycliiFe, of Wy- 
cliffe, Esquires ; (the arbitrators to whom the dispute was 
referred) which defined and set out the boundaries as 
they are now known. 

In or a short time before the year 1607, another 
dispute arose between Christopher Danby, Esq., the 
then Lord of Mashamshire, and Edward Lord Bruce, 
the then Lord of East Witton, as to the boundaries of 
those two parishes. This dispute also appears to have 
been about the deer on Witton Fell, Sowden-beck Pas- 
tures, and in Colsterdale. Lord Bruce havins: filed a 
Bill in Chancery against Christopher Danby, Esq., the 
matter was referred to the arbitration of Sir Thomas 
Fairfax, knight, and Richard Hutton, and John Jackson, 
Esquires. These gentlemen by their award (which was 
confirmed in Chancery on the 28th January, 1608) de- 
fined and settled the boundaries, and thus ended the 
dispute for the time being. 

About 170 years afterwards, namely in the year 1778, 
another dispute arose between William Danby, Esq., the 
father of the last William Danby, Esq., and Thomas 
Bruce, Earl of Aylesbury, as to the boundaries of Mr. 
Danby's lands in Colsterdale. The parties entered into 
a bond, dated the 28th February, 1778, whereby they 
agreed to refer the matters in dispute to the arbitration 
of Peter Johnson, Esq., of York. That gentleman, by 



24 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



his award dated the 9th November, 1779, set out and 
defined the boundaries of the Parish at that point as 
they are now known. 

The limits of the parish having been thus defined, the 
following statement will shew its extent in acres — 







ACKES. 


Township 


of Masham 


. 8657 


>» 


Swinton-with-Warthermarsk 


. 1614 


» 


Ilton-cum-Pott . . . : 


. 2220 


?> 


Fear "by . . . . . . ... 


853 


55 


Healey-with-Sutton 


. 4827 


55 


Ellingtons, High and Low 


. mo 


55 


Ellin gstring 


. 402 


55 


Burton-upon-Yore . . ... 


. 2242 



Total extent of Masham Parish 



22,525 



Of these 22,525 acres, about 7000 are open moorland. 
The rateable value of the parish according to Parlia- 
mentary returns is as under — 



RATEABLE VALUE. 


£ 


Township of Masham 


. 3595 


„ Swinton-with-Warthermarsk 


. 1397 


„ Ilton-cum-Pott 


. 1146 


55 Fearby .. .. .. . 


. 1029 


„ Healey-with-Sutton . . 


. 2089 


„ Ellington, High and Low. . . . . 


. 1734 


„ Ellingstring 


. 438 


„ Burton-upon-Yore . . . . . 


. 1604 



£13,032 

The following (which is copied from the Minute Book 
belonging to the Four-and-twenty of the parish of Mas- 
ham) will shew the different proportions which were 
formerly paid by the several townships in the parish, on 
account of the church-rates. 

" The ancient Rents of every severall Towne within 
the Parish of Masham by antient Records — 



Masham 
Burton 



Fifty Pounds 
Fifty Pounds 



EXTENT AND POPULATION. 25 

Swinton cu' Wardermarske . . . . Fower and Twenty Pounds 

Ilton en' Pott . . . . .... Thirty Pounds 

Healey cu' Sutton . . . . . . Thirty Pounds 

Feareby . . . . .... Fifteen Pounds 

Ellingtons . . . . . . Twenty-six Pounds 

Ellingstring . . . . .... Fifteen Pounds " 

This ancient mode of assessment of the parish was 
discontinued in the year 1828, when a new valuation 
was made (and which is now acted upon) as will appear 
from the following entry hi the Minute Book of the 
Four-and-twenty of the parish of Masham — 

" 1828. \ At a meeting of the Four-and-twenty, convened by due notice 
Vestry > i n writing, and held on the 23rd day of July last — It was 
Aug t . o. ; unanimously resolved and agreed, that a new Valuation of the 
several Townships within the Parish should be made by Mr. Trumper, for 
the more due Assessment and Equalization of the Church-rates — And at a 
meeting this day holden pursuant to regular notice, it was farther resolved, 
agreed, and declared, that for the future each Township of the Parish shall 
be rated and assessed at and in the respective suras following, viz. — 

£ 
Masham .. .. .. .. .. 1880 



Swinton 

Ilton-with-Pott . . 
Fearby 

Healey-with- Sutton 
Ellingtons . . 
Ellingstring 
Burton 



990 

910 

710 

1606 

1080 

355 

1200" 



Such a mode of laying a church-rate as this is very 
unusual, and it may be a question whether such a custom 
can be supported, especially as its commencement is so 
recent as 1828. To be a good custom, I apprehend that 
it should have been from time immemorial, which this 
is not. 

The tithes of the parish have been commuted under 
the Tithe Commutation Act, and the amounts payable 
in each township will be shewn by the following tabu- 
lar statement — 



26 



MASH AM AND MASHAMSIIIRE . 



TITHE COMMUTATION RENT CHARGES. 





Rectorial Tithes. 


Vicarial Tithes. 


TOWNSHIPS. 


£ 


s. 


d. 


£ 


s. d. 


Masham 


163 








*35 





Swinton- with- War thermarsk 


150 








36 





Ilton-cum-Pott . . . . . . 


92 








30 





Fearby 


96 








17 





Healey-with-Sutton 


140 








70 





Ellingtons, High and Low 


183 








35 


10 


Ellingstring . . . . 


62 








10 


10 


Burton-upon-Yore 


55 








-2 





Total £ 


941 








236 






The Rectorial Tithes are payable to the Master and 
Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge, who are the 
patrons of the living. 



POPULATION. 



Previous to the year 1801 no census was ever taken 
in this country, but since that time they have been taken 
regularly every ten years, the particulars of which, so 
far as they relate to the parish of Ma sham, are here 
given. From these Tables it will be readily seen how 
far the parish has increased, or decreased, in population, 
during the last sixty years. 

Before 1801, when the first census was taken in Eng- 
land, the only means of ascertaining the population of a 
place, was on a calculation grounded on the number of 
baptisms and burials which had been registered in the 
particular place within a given period. The following 
table will supply data for such a calculation. 

* Since the Commutation Land has been transferred from the Swinton 
Estate, in reduction of the Vicarial Tithes, a Rent-charge of 9/. 12s. is 
now only payable to the Vicar from the township of Masham. 



POPULATION. 



27 



A Table shewing the number of Baptisms and Burials which took place 
within the parish of Masham during a period of 100 years, viz., from 
A.D. 1700 to A.D. 1800. 



In the Tear 


Baptisms. 


Males. 


Females. 


In the Year 


Baptisms. 


Males. 


Females. 


1700 


38 


14 


24 


1760 


44 


22 


22 


1710 


36 


20 


16 


1770 


44 


26 


18 


1720 


23 


12 


11 


1780 


54 


34 


20 


1730 


27 


11 


16 


1790 


58 


33 


25 


1740 


32 


13 


19 


1800 


54 


26 


28 


1750 


51 


22 


29 











Baptised in Masham Church within the period of 100 years, ending in 
1800 inclusive :— Males, 2311— Females, 2178— Total, 4489. 

Buried at Masham during the same period: — Males, 1560 — Females, 1691 
—Total, 3251. 



CENSUS RETURNS OF THE SEVERAL TOWNSHIPS COMPRISED IN 

MASHAM PARISH. 



In the year 1801 the Parish of Masham contained 2520 Inhabitants. 



Masham Township 


1811 


1821 


1831 


1841 


1851 


1861 


1014 


1171 


1276 


1318 


1139 


1079 


Swinton-with-Warthermarsk 


182 


177 


207 


214 


205 


202 


Ilton-cum-Pott 


209 


266 


233 


237 


245 


200 


Fearby 


216 


214 


249 


237 


251 


242 


Healey- with- S utton 


354 


413 


400 


442 


378 


318 


Ellingtons, High and Low . . 


123 


152 


148 


130 


144 


114 


Ellingstring 


139 


204 


228 


196 


201 


164 


Burton-upon-Yore 
Total in the whole Parish . . 


164 


170 


254 


200 


132 


120 


2401 


2767 


2995 


2974 


2696 


2439 




LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, Etc. 



The market town of Masham is the head of an ancient 
Saxon parish of that name, which, nntil the year 1856, 
comprised the several townships or con stable wicks of 
Masham, Ellingtons (High and Low), Ellingstring, Fear- 
by, Healey- with- Sutton, Ilton- cum- Pott, Swinton-with- 
Warthermarsk, and Burton-upon-Ure. Masham parish 
was even more extensive than this previous to the 
building of Jervaux Abbey, for as it will be hereafter 
seen, the then Lord of Masham and Mashamshire grant- 
ed a considerable portion of his land here for the pur- 
poses of the abbey, which, thereupon, ceased to belong 
to Masham parish, on its being then placed under the 
spiritual charge of the monks of Jervaux. 

Masham parish — as to ecclesiastical matters — was in 
the year 1856 still more decreased in extent by the 
then formation of the new parish of Healey, as will be 



LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, ETC. 29 

shewn presently. In the year 1848, a new church was 
erected at Healey, by Admiral Octavius Vernon Har- 
court, and Anne Holwell Dauby Vernon Harcourt, his 
wife — the then and now Lord and Lady of the manor 
of Masham and Mashamshire (who also endowed it), 
and which on its consecration was dedicated to St. Paul 
the Apostle. 

By an order made by Her Majesty in Council, on the 
15th of January, 1849, after reciting that Her Majesty's 
Commissioners for building new churches, had, in pur- 
suance of the 16th section of an Act passed in the 59th 
year of the reign of George the Third, intituled " An 
Act to amend and render more effectual an Act passed 
in the last Session of Parliament, for building and pro- 
moting the building of additional churches in populous 
parishes," or under or by virtue of any other power or 
authority vested in them by the Church-building Acts, 
duly prepared and laid before Her Majesty in Council, 
a representation, bearing date the 5th of January, 1849, 
to the effect following — namely, that they (the said Com- 
missioners) having taken into consideration all the cir- 
cumstances of the united parishes of Kirkby Malzeard 
and Masham (the former of which parishes is situate 
within the West Riding, and the latter within the North 
Riding of the county of York, and both being within 
the diooese of Ripon), it appeared to them to be expe- 
dient that a particular district should be assigned to the 
consecrated church of St. Paul, situate at Healey, in 
the said parish of Masham, under and by virtue of the 
power or authority for such purpose contained in the 
16th section of an Act of Parliament, passed in the 59th 
year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Third, 
intituled " An Act to amend and render more effectual 
an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, for build- 
ing and promoting the building of additional churches 
in populous parishes," or by virtue of any other power 
or authority in that behalf, vested in them (the said 
Commissioners) under the Church-building Acts; and 



30 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

that such proposed district should comprise all that 
portion of the said parish of Masham which lies to the 
west of the eastern boundary line thereinafter described, 
which comprises also the entire township of Ellingstring, 
the township of Healey-cum- Sutton (excepting all that 
portion thereof called or known by the name of Sutton), 
the entire township of Ilton- cum- Pott, the greater part 
of the township of Fearby, with detached portions of 
the townships of Masham, Burton, Ellington, and Swin- 
ton, as well as the unenclosed moorlands belonging to 
the parish of Masham, and not divided between the 
several townships in such parish, and that such proposed 
district should be called " The Chapelry District of 
Healey," with boundaries as thereinafter mentioned, 
" The Chapelry District of Healey" is bounded on the 
south and south-west by the said parish of Kirkby Mal- 
zeard, on the north-west by the parish of Coverham, on 
the north by the parish of East Witton, and on the east 
by the remaining part of the said parish of Masham, 
from which the proposed Chapelry District is separated 
by the western and south-western boundary line of the 
township of Ellington, as far as to the point where the 
road from Ellingstring to Swinton crosses Swinny-beck ; 
then by the said road leading from Ellingstring to Swin- 
ton, till it meets the Burn river; thence by the river 
Burn, running in a westerly direction up to the mouth 
of Quarry-gill beck ; thence by the Quarry-gill beck, till 
it arrives at the boundary of the township of Ilton; 
then by the boundary line of the township of Swinton, 
as far as to the road leading from Masham to Ilton ; and 
then by the boundary line of the township of Burton, 
till it meets the boundary of the parish of Kirkby Mal- 
zeard on the south, as such proposed Chapelry District 
is more particularly delineated on the map or plan there- 
unto annexed, and is thereon coloured pink. Also that 
it appeared to them (the said Commissioners) to be expe- 
dient that banns of marriage should be published, and 
that marriages, baptisms, churchings, and burials should 



LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, ETC. 31 

be solemnized or performed in the said church of St. 
Paul, and that the fees to arise therefrom should be paid 
and belong to the incumbent of such church for the 
time being. That the consent of the Eight Reverend 
Charles Thomas, Lord Bishop of Ripon (as Bishop of 
the Diocese) had been obtained thereto, as required by 
the act and section thereinbefore mentioned, in testi- 
mony whereof the said Charles Thomas Lord Bishop of 
Ripon, had signed and sealed that representation. The 
said Commissioners, therefore, humbly prayed that her 
Majesty would be graciously pleased to take the pre- 
mises into her royal consideration and to make such 
order in respect thereto, as to her Majesty in her royal 
wisdom should seem meet. Her Majesty having taken 
the said representation, together with the map or plan 
thereunto annexed, into consideration, was pleased, by 
and with the advice of her Privy Council, to approve 
thereof, and to order, as it is thereby ordered, that the 
proposed assignment be accordingly made, and the 
recommendations of the said Commissioners in respect 
of the publication of banns and the solemnization of 
marriages, baptisms, churchings, and burials, and the 
fees arising therefrom, be carried into effect, agreeably 
to the provisions of the said act, and her Majesty, by 
and with the like advice, was pleased thereby to direct 
that that Order should be forthwith registered by the 
Registrar of the Diocese.* 

Thus far the district thus assigned to Saint Paul's 
Church, Healey, only constituted it into a " Chapelry 
District," and not a parish; but by the 14th section of 
a subsequent act of Parliament, viz., the 19th and 20th 
Vict., cap. 104 (commonly called Lord Blandford's Act, 
and which received the royal assent on the 29th July, 
1856), it is enacted that "Whensoever or as soon as 
banns of matrimony and the solemnization of marriages, 
churchings, and baptisms, according to the laws and 

* See < London Gazette ' of the 2nd of Feb., 1849. 



32 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

canons in force in this realm, are authorised to be pub- 
lished and performed in any consecrated church or 
chapel, to which a district shall belong, such district 
not being at the time of the passing of this act a sepa- 
rate and distinct parish for ecclesiastical purposes, and 
the incumbent of which is, by such authority, entitled 
for his own benefit to the entire fees arising from the 
performances of such offices, without any reservation 
thereout, such district or place shall become and be a 
separate and distinct parish, for ecclesiastical purposes, 
such as is contemplated in the 15th section of the first 
recited act [referring to the the 6 and 7 Vict., cap. 37], 
and the church or chapel of such district shall be the 
church of such parish." And by the 15th section of 
the same act, it is enacted that " The Incumbent of every 
new parish, created .... pursuant to the provisions .... 
of this act, shall, saving the rights of the Bishop of the 
Diocese, have sole and exclusive cure of souls, and the 
exclusive right of performing all ecclesiastical offices 
within the limits of the same, for the resident inhabi- 
tants therein, who shall for all ecclesiastical purposes be 
parishioners thereof, and of no other parish, and such 
new parish shall, for the like purposes, have and possess 
all and the same rights and privileges, and be affected 
with such and the same liabilities, as are incident or 
belong to a distinct and separate parish, and to no other 
liabilities." 

By the conjoint operation of the Order in Council, 
and of the Acts of Parliament before alluded to, the 
district thus originally assigned to Saint Paul's church, 
Healey, as a Chapelry District, has become, and is now, 
a separate and distinct parish for ecclesiastical purposes, 
and has ceased to form a part of the ancient parish of 
Masham, so far, at least, as regards ecclesiastical purpo- 
ses. As a necessary consequence of this, the vicar, 
churchwardens, and the four- and- twenty of the parish 
of Masham, have on the one hand, now, no power or 
authority whatever to intermeddle with the ecclesiastical 



LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, ETC. 33 

concerns of the residents in the new parish, either by 
interfering with the minister of Healey parish in his 
functions, or by rating the inhabitants of Healey parish 
to the church-rate, or otherwise ; and on the other hand, 
the residents within the new parish of Healey have now 
no power or authority whatever to intermeddle with 
the ecclesiastical concerns of the old parish of Masham, 
or to be or act as churchwardens or members of the 
Four-and-twenty of the parish of Masham, as is now the 
case.* 

* Since writing the above, I have been favoured with a copy of an opinion 
which has been given by Dr. Travers Twiss, upon a case submitted to him 
by the Four-and-twenty of the parish of Masham, to advise them as to their 
right to enforce the payment of a church-rate upon the inhabitants of 
Healey. That learned civilian is of opinion that the District Chapelry of 
Healey has been constituted — for ecclesiastical purposes — a new parish, and 
as such can make a rate for the repair of the new church of Healey ; but 
that such rate must be levied, according to the general ecclesiastical law, 
upon the inhabitants of the new parish exclusively, and not in the .manner 
in which church-rates are levied for the parish of Masham. So far his 
opinion coincides with the view I have taken of the subject. He, however, 
goes on to say that he thinks the new parish of Healey is not relieved from 
the payment of rates assessed by the Twenty-four of Masham, according to 
immemorial custom (basing such opinion on the case of Batt v. Watkinson, 
a report of which will be found in the Appendix C. hereto). He-saysit 
would appear from the judgment in that case, that the rate assessed by the 
Four-and-twenty, according to the ancient immemorial custom of the parish 
of Masham, is not to be regarded as an ecclesiastical rate, but a common law 
rate, and that the rate is to be levied by the churchwardens under common 
law process, upon warrant from the Four-and-twenty, to whom alone they 
are to account; and that the obligation to pay a rate so assessed by the 
Four-and-twenty is a common law obligation of which the ecclesiastical 
courts cannot take cognizance. Whereas he says the 15th section of the 
new Parish Act (1856), in declaring the parishioners of the new parish to be 
parishioners of no other parish, and to be subject to no other liabilities than 
such as are incident to the inhabitants of a distinct and separate parish, 
qualifies the exemption by the words " for ecclesiastical purposes " — that is, 
as he interprets them, for all purposes known to the ecclesiastical law, and 
of which the ecclesiastical courts may take cognizance. The fallacy of Dr. 
Twiss' argument is too evident to need pointing out. What he in effect says, 
is, that a church-rate levied by the Four-and-twenty is not for ecclesiastical 
purposes, simply because it cannot be enforced by the ecclesiastical courts, 
but by the warrant of the Four-and-twenty, as if the mode of recovery of a 

D 



34 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Both the parishes of Masham and Healey are, for 
ecclesiastical purposes, situate within the Deanery of 
Catterick, the Archdeaconry of Richmond, the Diocese 
of Ripon, and the Province of York. The parishes of 
Masham and Kirkby Malzeard, it will, however, be here- 
after seen, were, at an early period, exempted by the 
Archbishop of York and the Dean and Chapter of York, 
from Archdeaconal jurisdiction; and on the ground of 
such exemption, and as a consequence of it, the Peculiar 
Court of Masham was established, which exercised juris- 
diction over all ecclesiastical offences committed within 
its jurisdiction, the proof of wills of persons possessed 
of bona notahilia within the local extent of its jurisdic- 
tion, the administration of the effects of intestates under 
like circumstances, and the granting of marriage licenses ; 
but since the establishment of the Courts of Probate and 
Divorce, the greatest portion of its jurisdiction has been 
taken away. It still, however, continues to grant mar- 
riage licenses, although there are serious doubts whether 
it has the power even to do this. It is a very singular 
circumstance — - yet not less singular than true — that 
during the time of the late Rev. Thomas Riddell, whilst 
he as the vicar of Masham — who is the commissary or 
head of the Peculiar Court of Masham — granted marriage 
licenses, as the Surrogate and Deputy of the Bishop of 
the Diocese, and in the name of the Bishop, his curate, 
as his (the vicar's) Surrogate or Deputy, granted similar 
marriage licenses in the name of the vicar, as Commis- 
sary of the Peculiar Court of Masham. In matters of 
civil action, the ancient parish of Masham is situate 
within the Honour or Liberty of Richmondshire, and as 
the chief bailiff of that Liberty has the return of all 

rate alters the nature and purpose of it. I say a church-rate is for an ecclesi- 
astical purpose, however recoverable, and that the mode of its recovery makes 
no difference in its nature and purpose. Being then, as I contend it is, a 
liability for ecclesiastical purposes, the inhabitants of the new parish of 
Healey are exempt from it. Holding this opinion, I still adhere to the view 
I have taken of the subject, as above expressed. 



LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, ETC. 35 

writs issuing out of the Queen's Courts, the sheriff of 
Yorkshire cannot enter this Liberty to execute any such 
writs, but on receiving such, directs his mandate thereon 
to the chief bailiff of the Liberty, to execute the same 
within hia Bailiwick, who executes the same accordingly ; 
and all persons taken in execution by him, under writs 
of Capias ad Satisfaciendum, are lodged and imprisoned 
by him in his gaol at Richmond. In modern practice, 
however, it is usual to obviate this, by inserting in the 
writs which are directed to the Sheriff of Yorkshire, 
what is called the " non omittas clause," viz., " omit not 
by reason of any liberty in your bailiwick, but" etc., 
which authorizes the sheriff to enter all Liberties, and 
to execute the Queen's writs therein. Formerly, Quar- 
ter Sessions were held at Richmond for the Liberty of 
Richmondshire, and when such was the case, the Sessions 
business for this district was transacted there, and not 
at the Quarter Sessions for the North Riding, as at 
present. But these Liberty Sessions were abolished many 
years ago. 

As regards magisterial business, business relating to 
the land tax, the assessed taxes, and the property and 
income taxes, the ancient parish of Masham is situate 
within the division of Hang East, of which Bedale is 
the head. 

In the matter of elections of knights of the Shire for 
the North-Riding of Yorkshire, the whole parish is 
situate within the Leyburn polling district, and the lists 
of voters for the' several townships within the parish are 
annually revised by the revising barrister at Leyburn, 
where, also, the polling of the voters takes place at the 
elections. 

As to County Courts, part of the parish, viz., the 
townships of Masham, Swinton-with-Warthermarsk, and 
Ilton-cum-Pott, is within the jurisdiction of the County 
Court at Ripon ; and the remaining part of the parish, 
viz., the townships of Burton-upon-Yore, Fearby, Hea- 
ley- with- Sutton, Ellingtons (High and Low), and Filing- 



36 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

string, is within the jurisdiction of the Leyburn County 
Court. 

As to the administration of the Poor-laws, the town- 
ships of Masham, Swinton-with- Warthermarsk, and Ilton- 
cum-Pott, are within the Bedale Poor-law Unions and 
the townships of Burton-upon-Ure, Fearby, Healey-with- 
Sutton, Ellhigtons (High and Low), and Ellingstring, 
are within the Leyburn Poor-law Union. 

A small portion of the town of Masham is situate 
withhi the Liberty of Saint Peter, the tenants of which 
do suit and service at the Copyhold Court, held for " the 
manor of the late Prebend of Masham " — the Master 
Fellows and Scholars of Trinity College, Cambridge, 
bemg the Lords of such manor in right of the dissolved 
Prebend ; and part of the township of Burton-upon-Ure 
as well as some portion of the district near Pott Grange 
having formerly formed part of the possessions of the 
monks of Fountains, is within the manor of Fountains 
Earth. The remaining portion of the ancient parish of 
Masham is within the manor of Masham and Masham- 
shire — the tenants of which answer, and do suit and 
service at the Manorial Courts held by the Lord of that 
manor. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 

From the many early remains which have from time 
to time been brought to light within the parish of Mas- 
ham and its immediate neighbourhood, and from the 
names of many places still to be found in it, there is 
every reason to believe that Masham is a place of great 
antiquity, and that it has been one of much importance 
as far back as the time of the Early Britons, when the 
religion of this country was that system of paganism 
called Druidism.* 

* The chief doctrine which the Druids inculcated was the transmigration 
of souls, they asserting that when a man died his spirit did not perish but 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIEE. 37 

It is not intended in this place to describe the several 
early remains above alluded to, but to defer the descrip- 
tion of them to a subsequent portion of this work, where 
the subject will be entered upon at some length. 

In the meantime I would wish to draw the reader's 
attention to several places in Mashamshire, the names 
and situations of which are even at this distant day very 
suo^estive of a Druidical origin. It is a matter of 
history that the inhabitants of this country, and of this 
district more especially, adored the sun under the name 
of " Bell " or " Baal, which they worshipped in high 
places and deep groves, amidst the deep gloom of the 
dense oak forests, intersected by labyrinths of devious 
and inextricable paths and windings, or within huge 
circles of upright stones — making 

" Their altars the high places, and the peaks 
Of earth o'ergazing mountains — " 

erecting their altar- stones on the tops of mountains, and 
sacrificing hi the valleys. In this parish there are places 
which fully answer to this description, as well in situa- 
ation and appearance, as in the names which they still 
bear. I refer more especially to Healey-Baals, Beldin- 
Gill, and Baal- Hill, which latter place is situate either 
upon or near to the range of hills known by the name of 
Healey-Baals. The very name of Baal-Hill, without 
reference to its appearance or locality, indicates that the 
place is a hill dedicated to the worship of the heathen 

passed immediately into another body. They were much given to religious 
observances, and when attacked by any serious disease or were involved in 
the dangers of warfare, they immolated human victims, and employed the 
Druids to perform these sacrifices — their opinion being that the gods were 
not to be propitiated, unless for the life of a man, the life of a man were 
offered up. They also offered up similar sacrifices on behalf of the state — 
sometimes images of wicker-work of immense size were constructed, which 
being filled with living men, were then set fire to, and the men perished in 
the flames. They regarded the destruction in this manner, of persons taken 
in the commission of theft or robbery, or any other delinquency, as most 
agreeable to the gods ; but when the supply of such criminals was insuf- 
ficient, they did not hesitate to make victims of the innocent. 



38 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

god Baal ; and the name Healey-Baals, according to the 
interpretation which I put upon these words, is, if pos- 
sible, still more conclusive of the matter. I take it that 
the name of Healey is derived from Heil, holy or sacred, 
and ley, land consisting of fallow-ground, pastures, or 
meadows. If, therefore, I am right in my interpretation 
of the name of Healey, then Healey-Baals means simply 
land sacred to Baal. This supposition is strengthened 
by the circumstance of circles of upright stones having 
recently existed near to the place, and from ancient relics 
which have been found within the parish, and at but a 
short distance from Healey and Healey-Baals, which are 
supposed to have been used in the mystical rites of the 
Druids or priests of Britain, for at least antiquaries can 
assign no other use to them. In the adjoining dale of 
Nidderdale, too, there are many places bearing the names 
of Baal-Hill, Baal-Bank, Baal-Ings, and other such like 
names. There are traditions, too, which have been 
handed down to us, to the effect that the heathen custom 
of making feasts and Baal-fires (which although unknown 
to the persons making them, were in truth so made in 
honour of Baal) have been continued until very recent 
times in this district — and especially in Nidderdale — the 
remembrance of which is transmitted to us in the annual 
feast which is still held at Healey.* 

Besides this internal evidence of the existence of 
Druidism within the parish and district, it is well known 
that one of the tribes of the Brigantian Celts had estab- 

* The Druids had four great religious festivals. The first was on the 10th 
of March, or the sixth day of the moon, which was the nearest to that, being 
their New Year's day ; the second on the 1st of May; the third on Midsum- 
mer ere ; and the fourth on the last day of October. On all these occasions 
their chief celebration was by fire. On the eve of the festival of the 1st of 
May, all the domestic fires throughout the country were extinguished, and 
lighted again the next day from the sacred fire kept always burning in the 
temple. In Ireland, and also in the North of Scotland, the first of May, 
and in some places the 21st of June, is still called Beltein or Beltane,]] that 
is, the day of Bel Fire, on which days fires are kindled, and imitations of 
the old superstitious ceremonies of the Beltane fires are performed. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 39 

lished themselves in this neighbourhood, and had selected 
it as their station for the dispensation of justice, the 
celebration of religious rites, and the seat of government. 
Mr. Walbran, in his 4 Guide to Ripon,' describes two 
remarkable earthworks, which are situate on the high 
land near Blots Hall, like Abury and Stonehenge, which 
he says they rival in antiquity; their outline is that of 
a circle, of which the diameter is not less than 680 feet. 
They have evidently been enclosed by a lofty mound 
and corresponding trench, the latter being inside, with a 
platform or space of about thirty feet wide intervening. 
Besides these there are three similar temples at Thorn- 
brough Moor, near Tanfield, one of which still remains 
perfect. He also says the antiquity and purpose of these 
places, as temples for the performance of Druidical rites, 
is satisfactorily ascertained by the existence of at least 
eight large Celtic barrows in their immediate vicinity, 
two of which, he says, he had opened in 1846. He also 
adds that it is not unreasonable to believe that a spring 
which rises in a piece of enclosed ground, called Halli- 
keld* field, about midway between the works before de- 
scribed and the village of Melmerby, was the fons sacer, 
necessary for the due performance of Druidical rites. 
Celts, Druidbeads, and fragments of coarse pottery ware 
have also been found in the neighbourhood. 

From these circumstances, there is too much reason 
to fear that our native hills have been the frequent wit- 
nesses to many a human sacrifice, and that our peaceful 
valley has often resounded to the shrieks of the dying 
victims of a gross and sanguinary superstition. 

Nor is it less certain that Mashamshire was not un- 
known to the Roman cohorts, with their glittering arms 
and ensigns — 

" Those dauntless chiefs 
Who clad in armour bright and lofty crests, 
Dealt death with many a ghastly wound," 

* Hallikeld, from the Danish Helligkilde, means Holy-well. 



40 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

since many such arms have from time to time been found 
within the parish. Besides which it is surrounded on 
all sides by Roman military stations — is intersected by 
ancient Roman roads — and Roman remains have been 
extensively discovered not only within it but in the sur- 
rounding neighbourhoods. If we turn southward, we 
discover at Aldbrough, near Boroughbridge, the great 
Isurium of the Romans — mentioned by Ptolemy (who 
wrote a.d. 120) as existing at the time when the Anto- 
nine Itinerary was compiled — and which was at one time 
in all probability the chief city in Britain. If we turn 
to the north, at Catterick-briclge, we see the Roman 
military station, Cataractonium ; and further west, in 
Wensleydale, where Bainbridge now stands, we see the 
Roman military station or town of Bracchium, traces of 
which are yet distinctly visible, and where, at various 
periods, altars, stones bearing inscriptons, and parts of 
statues have been dug up. From Isurium to Cataracto- 
nium, we trace the great Roman military road, called 
Watling Street, and now known by the modern name of 
Leeming-lane. From Cataractonium, we trace another 
Roman road in the direction of Kilgram-bridge, thence 
past Ellington, in Mashamshire, close by the Mar or 
Mere -field, and westward of the town of Masham, and 
to the eastward of a small oval camp in Swinton-park, 
and of the large square camp at Nutwith; thence to 
Roman-ridge and How-hill, across the river Nidd to the 
westward of Ripley, joining Watling Street again about 
midway hi its course from Isurium to Olicana (now 
called Ilkley), on the Wharf. At Nutwith, near Mas- 
ham, we find that another Roman vicinal road branched 
out of the road just described, taking the direction of 
Aldbrough Hall, and thence past Well, where a Roman 
pavement and other Roman remains, evidently forming 
part of a Roman villa, were sometime since discovered, 
and are mentioned in Camden's Britannia, as also some 
others discovered so late as in the year 1859 ; and thence 
past the three circular entrenchments at the very ancient 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSH1RE. 41 

village of Thornbrough, before described.* It should 
be here observed that these Roman military and other 
branch roads, which I have been thus tracing out, were 
not mere trackways, such as our early British roads 
were, or even such as are our present roads, but were 
roads of a more permanent description, carefully con- 
structed of large paving stones, laid in concrete, so as to 
prevent the roots of trees and other things from growing 
through them (of which portions can yet be traced near 
Masham) ; and their route, too, was marked by tumuli 
of earth raised up so as to serve in the place of our 
modern guide-posts. 

Having thus shewn Masham to be the centre of sev- 
eral Roman military stations, and that it is intersected 
in different directions by Roman roads, and to be in the 
immediate vicinity of an undoubted Roman villa at 
Well, I now proceed to shew that there is every reason 
to suppose that a Roman fort once stood at Aldbrough 
Hall, near Masham. The very name itself of Aldburgh 
denotes its antiquity as a fortification — Aid signifying 
old, and burgh a fortified place ; but when it is remem- 
bered that this was its name so far back as the eleventh 
century, it must indeed be considered as a very ancient 
fortification. That Dr. Whitaker was evidently of 
opinion that a Roman station once existed at Aldbrough 
Hall, is apparent from this passage taken from his His- 
tory of Richmondshire — "The distance between Isurium 
and Eracchium was such as to require an intermediate 
station. This Aldburgh is on or near the line of road. 
I think it probable that the Romans had a fort, however 
inconsiderable, at this place. The Iter is stated to me 
to have struck out from Leeming-lane to the north-west, 
so as to pass through the glebe land of Wath, where it 
has been ploughed up ; it then traverses Thornbrough- 
moor, passes between Nosterfield and Tanfield, and 

* The Roman roads above described have been traced out, and are shewn 
upon a map which has been published by the Royal Society of Antiquaries. 



42 MASELAJM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

thence over Watlas-moor to Thornton- Steward. Some- 
where about Ulshaw-bridge must have been the Roman 
Trajectus. Near the course of this road, some years 
ago, a Roman tesselated pavement, indicating a villa, 
was taken up at Well ; and in a field north of Gatenby- 
gate by Leeming-lane, large foundations of buildings 
were taken up about sixteen years ago, together with a 
brick pavement, two or three pillars, and some stones, 
apparently bases whose mouldings seem to be wrought 
by Roman models." 

Professor Phillips, in his work before quoted, says, 
" At Aldbrough* nearly opposite Nutwith Camp, an old 
road crossed the Ure, and there are marks fitting to its 
name, of ancient foundations." 

These foundations are still very apparent, and near to 
them is a tumulus, the usual accompaniment of such a fort- 
ress. It is from this circumstance, no doubt, that all recent 
writers on the topography of the district, have fallen into 
the error of stating that William le Gros, Earl of Alber- 
marle — who in 1138 was created Earl of York, as a re- 
ward for his gaining the battle of the Standard — had a 
castle here, when the fact is that William le Gros's castle 
was at Aldburgh in Holderness, and not at this Aldburgh. 

With these remarks I must conclude my observations 
on the Roman period of the history of Mashamshire. 

That Mashamshire not only existed, but was a flour- 
ishing place in the time of our Saxon forefathers, is 
amply proved by the Domesday Survey, which was 
made by the directions of William the Conqueror, soon 
after the Conquest, and was completed a.d. 1086. From 
the extract from the Domesday Book, set out in the 

* Aldbrough Hall is now the seat and property of John Timothy D'Arcy 
Hutton, Esq., a magistrate for the North Riding of Yorkshire. (See Pedi- 
gree post.) It is an old mansion covered with ivy, and is situated about 
three miles from Masham. The staircase and several of the floors are of old 
black oak. Amongst the paintings is a fine portrait of the Hon. James 
D'Arcy, created Baron D'Arcy of Navan, Ireland, who died in 1731, aged 
eighty ; also of Sir Roger Beckwith, a former owner of the estate. 



HISTOKY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 43 

Appendix A. to this work, it will be seen that Masham, 
Swinton, Sutton, Ellington, Fearby, Ilton, and Burton, 
are all mentioned and minutely described, as being in 
existence at the time of our Saxon King, Edward the 
Confessor, and that they were very much depreciated in 
value at the time of the Survey. The circumstance 
that — according to Domesday Book — there was a church 
at Masham at that time, whilst it carries us back into the 
Anglo-Saxon period of our history, proves beyond doubt 
that Masham had become a place of some importance, 
and sufficiently populous to have a church of its own at 
that early day. The church, however, which we now 
see, is not the one which existed in the Saxon times. 
During the late restoration of the church, it was dis- 
covered that a great number of highly-wrought and 
moulded stones, some of which were decidedly of Saxon 
masonry, as well as others, which bore evident marks of 
fire, had been used up in the rebuilding of the present 
structure; besides which, great quantities of charcoal 
and partially burnt wood were brought to light whilst 
digging in the churchyard. From these discoveries, 
and what has been thus brought to light, I have no 
doubt but that the old Saxon church was one of the 
churches which sprung up in consequence of the preach- 
ing of St. Paulinus, and was no mean structure considering 
the period hi which it was built, and that it was de- 
stroyed by fire in one of the many wars which unhappily 
desolated this country in those early times. Drawings 
of some of the Saxon masonry before alluded to will be 
found in these pages. 

We find from the earliest records and documents in 
existence relating to the place, and dating from a period 
immediately after the Norman Conquest, that the district 
which is now known to us by the name of Mashamshire, 
has, as far back as can be traced, been called and dis- 
tinguished by the name of Mashamshire, and further, 
that it has always been spoken of and described as being 
a forest. It will be seen, on referring to the copy of 



44 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the Grant of Earl Alan to Roger de Mowbray, set out 
in the Appendix A., that Mashamshire is there spoken 
of. The Forest of Masham is also mentioned in the 
following charter of Roger de Mowbray : 

" Roger de Mowbray, to all his men, French and 
English, future and present, Greeting : Know ye that I 
have given, and by this charter confirmed to John son 
of Drin, Burton with all its appurtenances and Comon 
of Pasture in the Forest of Massham and in the Province 
of Massham, I grant to him to make a mill, and to fasten 
the stagnum or mill poole; I allso grant to him the 
pawnage of his hogs quit in the Forest of Massham,, and 
building wood and fyre wood doing the service of the 
tenth p't of one knight's fee. I also grant unto him 
hare and wulf. These being Witnesses," etc. (Harleian 
MS., vol. 793, British Museum.) 

From the circumstance of this district being thus 
described as Mashamshire — although then comprising 
several different manors — and as the Forest of Masham, 
and from the fact that we cannot find amongst the 
Public Records since the Norman Conquest, any original 
Royal grant giving it that designation, or constituting 
it a forest, we are entitled to assume that it was so called 
by the name of Mashamshire, and was so constituted a 
Lordship paramount (as it now is) as well as a forest, 
before the Conquest, namely in the Saxon times ; and 
further, as appears by the Domesday Survey, that the 
village of Aiskew, near Bedale, was then a soke belong- 
ing to it, and as such, the inhabitants of Aiskew would 
be required to do their suit and service at the Masham 
Courts. 

Mr. Fosbroke, in his Encyclopaedia of Antiquities, 
page 449, thus speaks of forests : — " The Northern 
nations threw the country adjacent to their chief resi- 
dences into forests, on account of the superior safety and 
less danger in incursion and defence. Hence forests, 
which were not made for the mere purposes of hunting 
near our cities. They were anciently exclusive of any 



HISTORY OE MASHAMSHIRE. 45 

county, diocese, or parish, acknowledging the King only 
for their Lord, and had a peculiar law of their own. 
They abounded with wolves, boars, buffaloes, stags, 
roes, goats, hares, and thieves. In process of time they 
became neglected so that by Statute xvii., Car. 1, which 
enacts that no forests where the courts had not been 
held for sixty years, should thereafter be deemed forests, 
they were got rid of with very few exceptions." Citing 
Caes. B. Gall. lib. vi — Spelman v. Foresta — M. ParL 
988 st. al. 

Since the Norman Conquest, however, rights of forest, 
properly so called, can only belong to the Crown, or at 
any rate can only be legally constituted by a Grant 
from the Crown ; assuming then that Mashamshire is 
really and truly a forest, it is a somewhat singular cir- 
cumstance that a private subject should thus be possessed 
of a forest — certain, however, it is, that the Lords of 
Mashamshire have from the earliest times, and down to 
the present, asserted these rights of forest. A deputa- 
tation is still in existence, dated 8th Charles I., under 
the seal of Sir Thomas Danby, by which he deputed 
and appointed Francis Armitage, Esq. (his brother-in- 
law) to the office of Bow-bearer* of his chase of Mas- 
hamshire, to hold for the life of him the said Thomas 
Armitage, together with all fees and emoluments thereof, 
in as ample manner as the same had iisually been held. 
Jacob, in his Law Dictionary, defines " Bow- bearer " 
to be " an under officer of the Forest, whose office is to 

* Roger Croft, Esq., of Appleton, was Bow-bearer for the adjoining 
Forest of Wensleydale. The Crofts of Stillington are of the same family. 




46 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE, 

oversee, and true inquisition make, as well of sworn 
men as unsworn, in every bailiwick of the forest, and of 
all manner of trespasses done, either to vert or venison, 
and cause them to be presented without any concealment 
in the next Court of Attachment," etc. Citing Crompt. 
Juris., fol. 201. 

If we are to attach any importance to this Deputation 
of Bow-bearer, it would seem to imply that the Lords 
of Mashamshire held the forest under a Royal Grant, 
" habendum cum omnibus incidentibus et pertinentiis" 
which includes the courts and officers incidental to them, 
except the Justice in Eyre, for under no other state of 
things could the Lords of Mashamshire appoint forestal 
officers. 

Besides this forestal officer, the Bow-bearer, it would 
seem, by a pretty well authenticated tradition in Mas- 
ham, that up to the time of the inclosure of the moors 
and commons, which extended up to Masham town-end, 
there was another forestal officer, called a u Swineherd," 
appointed for the manor of Mashamshire, and a field is 
also pointed out as being the Swine-garth, which was 
used by that functionary in the way of his calling. That 
field is situate at Masham town-end, on the road to 
Swinton, and is now in the occupation of Mr. Edmund 
Barker, and is called to this day by the name of the 
Swine-garth. Tradition further has it, that every morn- 
ing, on the Swineherd's blowing his horn, the good 
people of Masham opened their piggery doors, where- 
upon the grunting inmates immediately made their way 
very instinctively to the Swineherd at the Swine-garth, 
and when the swinish multitude had all assembled, he 
took them to feed for the day upon the commons and 
wastes, and brought them back again to their respective 
homes in the evening ; when 

" to their lowly dome, 

The full-fed swine returned with evening home ; 

Compelled, reluctant, to their several sties, 

With din obstreperous, and ungrateful cries" — 

Pope's Odyssey. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 47 

That swine did run out here hi the woods, is evident 
from Roger de Mowbray's charter before cited, wherein 
he grants to the people of Burt on-upon- Yore, the pan- 
nage of their hogs quit in the forest of Masliam. Ac- 
cording to King John's Charter of the Forest No. 7, 
" the Swineherd was an officer under the Forest laws, 
whose duty it was at the ringing of a bell at ten o'clock, 
to drive the swine upon the forest, and to collect and 
bring them back when the bell rang the hour of four." 

Besides these instances of the exercise of forest-rights, 
the Lords of Mashamshire have up to the present time, 
regularly held courts, which are called forest courts, and 
to which forest juries are as regularly summoned. These 
courts are but forest courts hi name only, and not in 
reality. They are summoned and conducted in pre- 
cisely the same way as an ordinary Court Baron and 
Court Leet, and the Court Rolls are headed exactly the 
same as for a Court Baron and Court Leet, the only 
difference being that the Jury-panel is headed with 
" the names of the forest jury," instead of " the names 
of the jury." This, however, is but one instance of the 
many inconsistencies connected with the holding of the 
Manorial Courts here, and the measures taken for the 
preservation of the privileges and franchises belonging 
to the place. 

A forest, however, in the hands of a subject is more 
properly and legally speaking, a chase, being usually 
subject to the common law, and not to the forestal law; 
for unless the jurisdiction be expressly indicated in the 
grant, such grant does not pass forestal rights (see At- 
torney General v. Marquis of Downshire, 5 Price's 
Reports 269). This may account in some measure for 
the manner in which the Manorial Courts have been and 
are still held here. 

Assuming it then to be what I believe it to be, namely 
a chase; a chase is a franchise or liberty of keeping 
certain kinds of wild animals within a particular and 
known district. It is commonly less than a forest, and 



48 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

not endowed with so many liberties, as officers, laws, 
courts. It has no laws peculiar to it, so that all offences 
in chases are punishable by the common law, and not by 
the forest laws. (See Manwood 49, 147.) When it 
belongs to a subject it (the same as a forest) must have 
been originally created by a grant from the Crown. 

According to Manwood, beasts of the chase are — the 
buck, doe, fox, marten, and roe; and according to Lord 
Coke, in a common and legal sense, all beasts of the 
forest are beasts of the chase. Beasts of the forest are 
the hart, the hind, the boar, and the wolf. 

Forests and forest laws, however, are happily now 
amongst the things of the past, as through them great 
oppressions were frequently inflicted by the ancient 
Lords upon their vassals. Any inquiry into them now, 
therefore, is serviceable only for elucidating the past 
history of the country, and of the manners and customs 
of its inhabitants, at a time when men lived by the 
chase, and the chase was the only or chief sport or 
amusement of our great barons. In that day, no doubt, 
such franchises were exceedingly valuable, and much 
prized, so much so that the great feudal Lords enforced 
their rights so very strictly, and so oppressively, as to 
call forth in the reign of King John, a.d. 1215, the 
famous enactment, " the Carta de Foresta" — a charter 
second only in importance to Magna Charta itself. 

I now come to speak of another description of fran- 
chise, which has been granted by different kings to the 
Lords of Mashamshire. I allude to rights of Free 
Warren, which are the exclusive right of preserving and 
killing hares, rabbits, roes, partridges, pheasants, rails, 
quails, woodcocks, mallards, and herons (but not grouse) 
within the demesne lands and the limits of the manor. 
The first of these grants of Free Warren was made by 
King Henry III., a.d. 1250, to Sir John de Wauton, the 
then Lord of Mashamshire; another of these grants 
was made by King Edward III, a.d. 1328, to Jeoffrey 
le Scrope, the then Lord of Mashamshire ; and another 



fiiSTOilY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 49 

of such grants was made by King Kichard II., a.d. 
1393, to Stephen le Scrope, the then Lord of Masham- 
shire. 

The validity of the first-mentioned grant was called 
in question a.d. 1280, by Sir John de Wauton; he being 
then called upon to shew by what warrant or authority 
he claimed to have Warren at Masseham, Elington, 
Elingstring, Helagh, Fereby, and Sutton. To which he 
answered and proved, that they were hamlets, and mem- 
bers of Masseham, and that King Henry III. had granted 
him Free Warren in all his demesne lands in his manor 
of Masseham. See copy of the Judgment Roll in the 
Appendix B., No. 5. 

In the year 1549, the validity of the last-mentioned 
grant of Richard II., was called in question, by Sir 
Christopher Danby, the then Lord of Mashamshire, being 
then called upon by the King's Attorney General to shew 
by what warrant or authority he claimed the Chase or 
Forest, with Fairs and Free Warren at Mashamshire. 
To which he answered and justified his right to Free 
Warren under the above-mentioned grant of Richard 
II., and said that he was heir to Sir Stephen le Scrop, 
the grantee therein mentioned, as being the son of Mar- 
gery, who was great-granddaughter of the said Stephen 
the grantee — that Mashamshire had from time immemo- 
rial been called by the name of Mashamshire as well as 
by the name of Masham — and as to the Chace, he justi- 
fied his right to it by prescription, setting out its bounds, 
etc. ; which plea the Attorney General confessed to be 
true, and judgment was accordingly given thereon in 
favour of Sir Christopher Danby, thereby establishing 
his right to the franchises in question. See copy of the 
Judgment Roll in this case, which is set out at full 
length in the Appendix B, No. 6. 

These grants of Free Warren, it should be remem- 
bered, only extend to the demesne lands, and not to the 
tenemental lands of the manor, which were held by the 
respective grantees at the dates of their respective grants, 

E 



50 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

and do not extend to the after-acquired lands, or to any 
lands which the Lords have since parted with. The 
owner of a Free Warren possesses many peculiar privi- 
leges within his manor; among others I may mention 
that he or his gamekeeper may shoot a dog infesting his 
Warren — privileges which ordinary Lords of manors 
cannot exercise. 




Besides these several franchises, the Lords of Mas- 
hamshire have obtained for Masham no less than four 
different charters, authorizing a weekly market and sev- 
eral fairs to be held at Masham. The first was one 
granted to Sir John de Wauton, in the year 1250, grant- 
ing him one market on Friday, at his manor of Massham, 
and one fair there lasting for three days — to wit, on the 
eve, day, and morrow of the Assumption of Saint Mary ; 
the second was one granted to Geoffrey le Scrope in the 
year 1328, granting him one market at his manor of 
Massham on Wednesday, and one fair there of four 
days, to wit, on the eve and the day of St. Barnabas the 
Apostle, and for two days following ; the third was one 
granted to Stephen le Scrope in the year 1393, granting 
him a weekly market at his manor of Massham on Wed- 
nesday, and two fairs yearly, to be held on the Feast of 
St. Barnabas the Apostle,* and on the eve and day of 
the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin; and the fourth 
was granted to Thomas Danby, Esquire, in the year 

* It is stated in a document dated more than one hundred years ago, that 
the Barnabas Fairs here alluded to had not then been held within the time 
of man's memory, but upon what account or for what reason they had been 
discontinued was not known. The market every Wednesday, and the other 
fairs granted by this charter of Richard II. to Stephen le Scrope, had been, 
however, constantly held and kept up to that time. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 51 

1632, granting him a Fair to be held every other Wed- 
nesday, from the 8th of May till Michaelmas, for corn 
and cattle, together with a Court of Piepowder.* 

Copies of these charters will be found in the Appen- 
dix B. to this work. It will be seen on an examination 
of these charters, that none of them (except the last of 
them granting the fortnight fairs) give the Lord of the 
manor any tolls, or make any mention whatever of any 
tolls. Under such circumstances the Lord of the manor 
of Mashamshire is not justified in demanding or taking 
any tolls at any of these fairs, except the fortnight fairs. 
The law upon the subject, which is very clear, is thus 
laid down in Tomlynes' Law Dictionary, under the word 
toll — " If the king grants to a man a fair or market, and 
grants no toll, the patentee shall have no toll; for toll 
being a matter of private right for the benefit of the 

* The market and fairs held at Masham were in former times very much 
frequented, so much so that it very soon became a matter of complaint on 
the part of the Richmond people that their town had suffered very severely 
on account of them, and their property very much deteriorated in value. 
Even so late as the last century there was a good market at Masham, which 
was regularly attended by the people of Nidderdale and others from a great 
distance, who came and bought and carried away their goods on pack horses 
— a very primitive manner. 

Fairs were formerly of much greater importance to a district than they 
are now, for it was at them that the people provided themselves not only 
with every description of pedlars' wares, but of clothing of every kind, 
which they might require for the use of themselves and their families until 
the next fair. These articles were not then to be had at shops in the same 
manner as they are now. Thus they were not only a great convenience to 
the district at large, but were an advantage to the town where they were 
held, by bringing with them a large influx of people to it, to attend such 
fairs. This alone necessitated an increased number of inns, and we accord- 
ingly find that there were formerly in the town, as well as in the parish of 
Masham, a much larger number of inns than there are at present. The 
villages of Swinton and Ilton even had their inns in those days, and 
were no doubt flourishing concerns, owing mainly to the excessive use of 
intoxicating liquors, which then unfortunately prevailed everywhere. They 
no doubt profited also from the circumstance of Masham being situate on 
the high road leading direct from York to Lancaster, and as such was very 
much frequented — Masham being then a place of call. 



52 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Lord, is not incident to a fair or market, as a court of 
piepowder is, which is for the benefit of the public, and 
the advancement of justice, etc. Such a fair or market 
is free from toll, and after the grant made, the king can- 
not grant a toll to such free fair or market without some 
proportionable benefit to the subject; and if the toll 
granted with the fair or market be outrageous, the grant 
of the toll is void, and the same is a free market, etc." 
—2 Inst., 220, Cro. Eliz. 550; and see 1 Wils. 109. 
Besides this I may mention that in. the somewhat recent 
case of the Earl of Egrement v. Saul, 6 Adol. and Ell. 
924, where the charter contained the very same words 
as are in the operative part of these charters, viz., " cum 
omnibus liberis consuetudinibus, etc., ad feriam pertinen- 
tibus" it was held that the Lord of the manor was not 
entitled to tolls. This defect appears to have been dis- 
covered as early as the year 1632, for it will be seen 
that Thomas Danby, Esq., in obtaining the charter for 
the fortnight fairs, obtains a grant of tolls for the other 
fairs. This part of the charter is of no effect for the 
reason above stated, namely, that the king could not 
after the grant made of those other fairs grant any tolls 
in respect of such other fairs. In short the insertion of 
those words in the charter of 1632 was a futile attempt 
to bolster up the Lord's title to the tolls of the other 
fairs. 




HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 53 

Having thus described the several franchises to which 
the Lords of Mashamshire are entitled, I now proceed 
to describe the condition of the parish and district at the 
close of the Anglo-Saxon period, and the commence- 
ment of the Norman period of the history of this 
country. 

We find by Domesday Book and other early authentic 
records, that the town of Masham, and the several other 
hamlets and villages which are now situate in, and con- 
stitute Mashamshire, were all then (viz. before a.d. 
1086) existing, with the addition of some others which 
have since wholly disappeared. A place called " Tuis- 
tlebroc " is mentioned hi the Domesday Survey as then 
existing, but has now disappeared altogether, although 
it is supposed to have been situate somewhere upon the 
banks of the Swinney (which was formerly called 
" Tuisellbroc," from broc, a brook or beck, and tuisel, 
twisting or winding) ; and there was also then a village 
called " Sywardthorp," which was situate near to Sut- 
ton (where there are still some ancient foundations to be 
seen), but which has also disappeared — 

" We build with what we deem eternal rock, 
A distant age asks where the fabric stood !" 

From the name of this place, it is probable that it was 
one of the seats of Siward,* the great and powerful 

* This Syward or Siward was a Danish chieftain, and the eighth Earl of 
Northumberland during the reign of Edward the Confessor. He was a man 
of most extraordinary strength and valour, and was appointed by Edward 
the Confessor, to lead an army of 10,000 men into Scotland, to aid Malcolm 
against the usurper Macbeth, whom he slew, when he set Malcolm on the 
throne of Scotland. Shakspere, in his play of Macbeth, act iv., scene iii., 
has immortalized his name in the following couplet — 

" Gracious England hath 
Lent us good Siward, and ten thousand men; 
An older and a better soldier, none 
That Christendom gives out." 

Siward, who was famous for his goodness and piety as well as for 
his valour, is reputed to have been the founder of St. Mary's Abbey at 
York. When this brave old warrior was on his deathbed at York, in the 
year 1055, and reduced by disease to the last extremity, he is said to have 



54 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Earl of Northumberland, who nourished in the reign of 
Edward the Confessor — Syward being the name of a 
person, and thorpe being the Saxon for village. Some 
other places, also, which are now single houses were 
then villages, such for instance as Aldbrough and Nut- 
with Cote. 

At the time when the Domesday Survey was made, 
viz., before the year 1086, it appears that nearly the 
whole of Mashamshire was laid waste, and had ac- 
cordingly very much lessened in value between the time 
of Edward the Confessor and that time. On referring 
to the extract from the Domesday Book, which is 
inserted in the Appendix A to this work, it will be seen 
that Masham, which was worth £6 in the time of 
Edward the Confessor, was then only worth 16s. ; that 
Ellington was reduced in value during the same period 
from 40s to 30s. ; Sutton, which had been worth 10s., 
was then entirely waste; and Ilton, which had been 
worth 16s., was then only worth 8s. 

The key to all this devastation is to be found in the 
pages of history, written by many contemporary chroni- 
clers. From it we find that Mashamshire had to with- 
stand for years the rude shocks of the repeated incursions 
of the Danes, and according to an old local tradition, 
was the scene of a great battle, which was fought with 
the Danes at Mowbray Wath — 

"To shake the Saxon's mild domain, 
Hush'd in rude swarms the Robber Dane, 
From frozen wastes and caverns wild, 
To genial England's scenes beguil'd; 

exclaimed — " Oh, what a shame it is for me, who have escaped death in so 
many dangerous battles, to die like a beast at last ! Put me on my impene- 
trable coat of mail," * * * " Gird on my sword, place on my hel- 
met, give me my shield in my right hand, and my golden battle-axe in my 
left — thus as a valiant soldier have I lived, even so will I die !" His friends 
obeyed this injunction, which was no sooner done than he expired. His 
body was buried in the church of St. Olive, at York. His son Waltheof, 
and successor in the Earl of Northumberland, did not die so honourable 
a death, having been executed at Winchester. Waltheof 's daughter, Matilda 
or Maud, married David Canmore, afterwards king of Scotland. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 55 

And in his clamorous van exulting came 
The demons foul of famine and of flame ; 
Witness the sheep-clad summits, roughly crown'd 
With many a frowning foss and airy mound, 
Which yet his desultory march proclaim." 

In it we are also told that from the banks of the 
Ouse to the river Tyne, the Pagan Danes* laid in ashes 
not only towns but also churches and monasteries, f which 
the piety of our Saxon forefathers had reared as the 
evidences of their recent conversion to Christianity ; and 
that their greatest pleasure was in feastmg their eyes 
with the flames of the burning villages which they had 
pillaged, and their ears with the groans of their captives 
expiring under the anguish of torture. From it, too, 
we know that scarcely had Mashamshire recovered from 
these days of severe trial, than it had again to undergo 
others still worse. Edward the Confessor, the last of 
our Saxon kings, having died in 1066, William Duke of 
Normandy laying claim to the English crown, put him- 
self at the head of a formidable army, with which he 
ravaged the whole country, and although he succeeded 
in obtaining it by gaining the battle of Hastings, he was 
not contented until he had not only wrested from the 
ancient nobility of the country all their possessions, and 
given them to his own Norman followers, but had com- 
pletely altered and subverted all their ancient Saxon 
laws and customs, which they dearly prized — 

" The son of love, and lord of war, I sing — 
Him who bade England bow to Normandy, 
And left the name of Conqueror more than King, 
To his unconquerable dynasty — 

* The Danes seem to have been settled in Mashamshire and neigh- 
bourhood, for Gospatric, who was Lord of the town of Masham in the reign 
of Edward the Confessor, and Earl Siward, before alluded to, were both 
of them Danes. 

t The Nunnery which formerly stood in the Marfield probably disappeared 
about this time. 



56 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE, 

Nor faim'd alone by victory's fleeting wing, 

He rear'd his bold and valiant throne on high ; 
The bastard kept like lions his prey fast, 
And Britain's bravest victor was the last." 

lord Bybon. 

This conduct naturally roused the people against him, 
and as was to have been expected, made them slow to 
submit to the Norman yoke. A violent struggle accord- 
ingly ensued between William the Conqueror and the 
Northern Barons. York was the rallying point of the 
patriot army. William proceeding from York towards 
the North, laid waste the whole country before him, 
between York and Durham, so that, as all the chroni- 
clers relate, it was without inhabitants and people to 
till the ground for a period of nine years, and the few 
people that were left were fain to eat horse flesh, cats, 
dogs, and even men's flesh. It is said that 100,000 lives 
perished on that occasion. William of Malmesbury, 
who wrote eighty years afterwards, says, not an inhabited 
village remained — fire, slaughter, and desolation made a 
vast desolation there, which continued to that day. In 
the midst of all this, it was not by any means probable 
that Mashamshire would be spared, since it belonged to 
Edwin,* the Saxon Earl of Mercia, who with his brother 
Morcar, Gospatric, the then Lord of Masham town,f 

* Edwin was the first Lord of Mashamshire of whom we have any 
account. For the particulars of his life and doings, and that of his brother, 
Earl Morcar, see Edwin's pedigree post. 

* It is stated in Pict. Hist. Engl., vol. i., page 372, that " An English army, 
commanded by Gospatric, disheartened, disorganized, and very inferior in 
numbers, retreated before the Normans, and either retired into Scotland or 
threw itself into the mountains, being followed by all the population that 
had strength and activity enough to escape" William the Conqueror soon 
afterwards summoned Earls Edwin, Morcar, and Gospatric, to appear before 
him to answer for their offences. Gospatric, however, had the good sense 
not to obey the summons, but abandoning all he possessed in England, fled 
to Scotland, where King Malcolm Conmore gave him a castle and lands upon 
which he settled and founded a noble house. The families of Dunbar and 
Dundas (at the head of the latter of which is the present Earl of Zetland), 
deduce their pedigrees from this Gospatric. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 57 

and Archill, his brother Morcar, Lord of lit on, were 
the Conqueror's bitterest and most formidable foes. 

The great depreciation which had taken place in the 
value of Mashamshire, as shewn in the Domesday Sur- 
vey and other early documents, is thus easily accounted 
for. After a while, however, notwithstanding the repeated 
incursions of the Scots into this district, most of the 
villages rallied again, and were rebuilt, but some there 
were which never again rose from their ashes. 

We may picture to ourselves Mashamshire at this 
time as being a vast forest, consisting for the most part 
of thickly- studded woods, interspersed with extensive 
plains, dotted here and there by the several ancient 
Saxon villages, the habitations of men, surrounded by 
patches of cultivated ground. Whilst the woods were 
the lairs and resting-places of the wild boars, the wolves, 
the foxes, and the wild cats, which then infested the 
country, the plains supplied rich browzing ground for 
the fallow deer, which abounded in every part, affording 
good sport for the hunter — 

" On, and ever onwards bounding-, 

Scours the hunter to the chase ; 
On, and ever onwards bounding 

To the mountain's wildest space. 
Swift, as footed by the wind, 
Flies before, the trembling hind. 

Light and limber, upwards driven, 

On the hoar crag quivering, 
Or through gorges thunder riven 

Leaps she with her airy spring ! 
But behind her still the foe — 
Near and near the deadly bow ! " 

Bulwer. 

In the neighbouring forests of Wensleydale, Teesdale, 
and Galtres, we read that these were not the only wild 
animals that they were troubled with — their forests and 
woods being also infested with even bears and wild bulls ; 
and there is little doubt but that it was so, at least to 
some extent. We may therefore conclude that this dis ■ 



58 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

trict would not be wholly exempt from them. The 
bears, however, soon disappeared, owing to the great 
passion our rude forefathers had for bear-baiting,* which 
continued long after the bear had ceased to be a native 
of our woods, when it gave way to bull-baiting, which 
continued here until a comparatively recent period, when 
it in its turn gave way to advancing civilization. I be- 
lieve there are still to be seen in our Masham market- 
place, the rings, and at any rate the stones to which the 
bulls were attached for the purpose of baiting, and I 
even have some slight glimmering of the recollection 
of Susy Fleetham's bull being baited there. The wolves, 
though once plentiful enough, according to our earliest 
records, were destroyed at a much earlier period, as after 
the thirteenth century we have little mention of them 
in England ; although I believe a solitary one was found 
in Scotland so late as the year 1680, and another in 
Ireland in the year 1701. 

Wild cats continued to be found within this parish so 
recently as about 150 or 200 years ago, as appears by 
entries in our church books, wherein I find that the 
churchwardens, as was usual in those days, charge the 
parish with the payment of money for the destruction of 
wild cats as well as other vermin. These church books 
aiFord very conclusive evidence of the wildness of this 
part of the country, from the great number of wild cats, 
badgers, foxes, and foumarts, which appear therein to 
have been killed, and to have been paid for every year 
by the churchwardens. 

About the seventeenth century, the deer, which had 
before been very plentiful, also gave way to the progress 

* It would seem from the following passage in a very rare Roman Catho- 
lic book—" The Life of the Rev. Father Bennett of Canfield, Douay, 1623," 
translated from the French by R. R., Catholique Priest, page 11 — that bear- 
baiting was continued to be practised in England until very recent times. 
" Even Sunday is a day designed for beare-baiting, and even the hour of 
theyre [the Protestants'] Service is allotted to it, and indeede the tyme is as 
well spent at the one as at the other." 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSH1RE. 59 

of agriculture, to make room for more useful cattle, 
although I believe in the neighbouring forest of Wen- 
sleydale, they lingered there until the beghming of the 
last century. Whilst they continued with us, all our 
accounts are filled with the disputes which were con- 
tinually arising respecting them, and the rights of the 
chase. 

The hunting of the wild boar was in this as in other 
districts in England, once a favourite amusement of our 
ancient Lords. The wild boar is treated both by the 
ancient Welsh and English laws as a beast of the chase, 
which was reserved principally for the amusement of the 
king, and was so much prized in the reign of William 
the Conqueror, that a person convicted of killing a wild 
boar without royal authority, was punished with the loss 
of his eyes. They seem, however, to have been plenti- 
ful enough in this district, so much so as to have given 
the name to Swinton. 

The wild boar, it seems, soon became extinct, and the 
tame breed had taken its place in our woods as early as 
in Roger de Mowbray's tune, namely, in the eleventh 
century, as we find from the early grant of his, before 
alluded to, wherein he grants to the people at Burton- 
upon-Yore the pawnage or pannage of their hogs quit 
in the forest of Masham. As early, indeed, as the 
Saxon times, it appears that swine were kept in prodi- 
gious numbers, and were esteemed amongst the most 
valuable of their possessions, and that they fed great 
herds of them amongst the oak and beech groves, under 
the care of numerous swineherds.* Even, too, in our 

* Swine were kept in great numbers during the whole of the Anglo-Saxon 
times, and none of the common occupations of husbandry are more frequent- 
ly mentioned than that of the swineherd. In the will of a nobleman, two 
thousand swine are left to his two daughters ; another nobleman gives to his 
relations, a hide of land with one hundred swine, and he directs two hun- 
dred swine to be given to two priests, in equal proportions, for the good of 
his soul ; and an individual gives land to a church on the condition that two 
hundred swine are fed for the use of his wife.— See Pict. Hist. Engl., vol. i., 
page 277. 



60 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

own times it would seem that the regulation of the swine 
has been thought a subject worthy of legislative enact- 
ments, as by the Statute 35 Hen. VIII., cap. 17, sec. 
17, it was enacted that swine should not go unringed in 
woods. It also appears by more recent documents that 
up to the time of the enclosure of the moors and com- 
mons, which then came down to Masham town-end, that 
vast numbers of swine were still kept here, and were 
allowed to run in the neighbouring woods and waste 
lands, under the care of a regularly appointed swine-herd, 
and that they were herded in a garth at Masham town- 
end, still called Swinegarth, and now in the occupation 
of Mr. Edmund Barker. 




"BRYNGYIXG IN THE BORE'S HEAD 



The Mills next claim our attention, as being amongst 
the best indicia of the state of progress and civilization 
of a people at any given period. 

One thing strikes me as somewhat remarkable, and 
that is, that no mention whatever is made in the Domes- 
day Survey of there being any mills within Mashamshire, 

* The boar's head was formerly a favourite Christmas dish. Aubrey, in a 
MS. of the date 1678, in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, says, " Before the 
last civil wars, in gentlemen's houses, at Christmas, the first diet that was 
brought to table was a boar's head with a lemon in his mouth." It was 
brought in with the trumpets sounding before it. The Carol " bryngyng in 
the bore's head" is well known. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 61 

although we know that mills* for grinding corn had 
become common about the close of the Saxon period, 
and that very soon after the Conquest there were seve- 
ral mills in existence within the parish. Had any mills 
then existed in the parish, one would have expected to 
have seen them mentioned hi the Survey. Many mills 
are mentioned in Domesday, and Sir Henry Ellis, in his 
Introduction to Domesday Book says " Whenever a mill 
is specified in Domesday Book, we generally find it still 
subsisting. Mills anciently belonged to the Lords of 
manors, and the tenants were permitted to grind only at 
the Lord's mill." We must therefore conclude that either 
no such mills had been then built, or that they had been 
destroyed during the wars ; this latter supposition is the 
much more probable view of the matter. 

As early as the eleventh century, we find Roger de 
Mowbray, by a grant before referred to, giving the owner 
of Burton leave to make a mill, and to fasten the sta^num 
or mill-pool within the forest of Mashamshire. This 
mill, however, appears by another document to have 
fallen into decay as early as the year 1352. 

At, or very soon after this period, we find that there 
was a mill at Ilton, and that one Sir Richard de Wax- 
wid or Waxwand, knight, in giving his moiety of it to 
the monks of Fountains, at the same time stipulating 
that his freeholders should perform the same services to 
the mill, and help to repair the same, as they had been 
used to do to him, and reserving to himself and his hens 
the right of grinding his corn at it, and also covenanting 
that he would not permit any other mill to be erected 
or used in his territory. This mill would no doubt find 
plenty of employment whilst the monks of Fountains 
had their Cow-grange at Pott-grange. 

* No description of building is so frequently mentioned in Domesday 
Book as water mills. They were in every case the property of the Lord of 
the Manor, and the tenants were not permitted to grind at any other mill 
— a restriction which has not been abolished in some cases even at the 
present day.— Pict. Hist. Engl, vol. i., page 600. 



62 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

There was also at about the same date, another mill at 
Swinton, also the property of the monks of Fountains 
Abbey. The site of it is known even at this day. It 
would seem, however, that afterwards there were two 
mills at Swinton, for it appears by the Act book of the 
Ecclesiastical Court at Masham, that on the 14th of 
May, 1635, Christopher Lodge, of Masham, was pre- 
sented for not paying his church-rates " of Swinton 
corne milne," and at the same court, " John Lucas, of 
Massham, for the cloth mill in Swinton." Again, on 
the last day of February, 1638, John Lucas is presented 
for not paying his church-rate " for the Walk mill," and 
John Lofthouse, for not paying his church-rate for 
" Swinton mill," and again on the 14th of May, 1639, 
u Christopher Lodge, of Masham, was presented for not 
paying his church-rate for the corne mille of Swinton," 
and John Lucas, of Massam," for the cloth mill in Swin- 
ton. See Appendix D. 

Besides these mills, there were in the year 1392, two 
other corn mills in Mashamshire, which are described as 
being then worth by the year, beyond reprizes, £10, 
which was a very large sum at that date, when we con- 
sider that in that same valuation, land is valued at from 
fourpence to eightpence per acre, and other property 
in like proportion.* 

There was also formerly a cotton mill at Healey — a flax 




* Many years ago, an attempt was made to assert a claim on behalf of the 
corn mill at Masham, as being a soke, but this was resisted, and was ulti- 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 63 

or hemp mill in the Marfield — and a comb manufactory 
at Nutwith Cote. 

Bridges, also, are another index as to the progress of 
a people. Although our Saxon forefathers knew how to 
construct bridges both of stone and timber, bridges 
appear to have been but scarce in this district. We 
have already seen that when L eland, the antiquary, 
visited Masham, in the reign of Henry VIII., namely, 
about the year 1540 or 1550, there was only a wooden 
bridge over the Yore at Masham, and not one at all at 
Tanfield, although there were stone bridges over it at 
Wensley and Kilgram, which were then old. L eland 
then described Masham as being " a praty quik market- 
town," having " a fair church," with "wood, pasture, and 
sum good corn." The land between it and Grewelthorpe 
he describes as being then lingy and moorish. On the 
other side of the river Yore, he says " lyeth Aldeburg 
village," and further east " at Thorpe" (meaning Thorpe 
Perrow), u one of Master Danby's houses." 

The " tymbar" bridge mentioned by L eland as being 
over the Ure at Masham, was, I believe, the bridge 
which was washed away in a great flood which took 
place on the 2nd of February, 1732-3, and was the 
greatest flood known in the memory of men then living. 
Masham and Tanfield bridges were both broken down 
by it, and the North bridge at Ripon was also greatly 
damaged. The present bridge at Masham was built 
A.D. 1754, and was in its turn nearly swept away by 
the great flood of the 2nd of February, 1822, and 
which did very great damage, not only to the foun- 
dations of the bridge, but to the country generally. 

Whilst upon the subject of bridges, I may mention 
that in the Act book of the Ecclesiastical Court already 
cited, it appears that on the 5th September, 1621, one 
" William Dodgson and Jane his wife " were cited before 

mately abandoned ; Mr. Danby having first satisfied himself that there was 
no ground for making any such claim, and a fortunate thing it was for the 
people of Masham. 



64 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE, 

the Ecclesiastical Court here for committing fornication 
together before their marriage;" and the aforesaid Wil- 
liam Dodgson having confessed " that he committed the 
crime aforesaid on the said Jane afore their marriage," the 
judge " did enjoyne that they should acknowledge their 
fault before the minister and churchwardens, and to pay 
six shillings to the repairs of Burne bridge"— a most 
righteous and useful decision ! 

Elizabeth Jackson, of Ellingstring (widow), by her 
will, dated the 10th December, 1660, gave "ten shillings 
to the building of a bridge at Swinton Milne," and di- 
rected that if one should not be built within ten years 
after her death, that the legacy should go to the poor of 
S whit on; "also Mr. Beaverley to preach my funeral ser- 
mon,* whom I leave ten shillings for his paines." 

Anthony Beckwith, of Nutwith Cote (yeoman), by 
his will, dated the 10th of January, 1623, gave and 
bequeathed to the repairing of " the bridge called Ladie, 
standing over the river Bourne, in the parish of Mas- 
ham, forty shillings." This last mentioned bridge was 
no doubt Low Burne bridge, which at that time was but 
a horse bridge, but has since been widened, so as to 
admit of carriages, etc. passing over it. 

Edward King, of Sowermire, by his will, dated the 
8th of March, 1625, gave to the building of " Golden 
life brigg ys" [Gowlinglithe bridge]. 

The monks of Fountains, very soon after their estab- 
lishment, appear to have obtained a footing here, Earl 
Alan, one of the earliest Lords of Mashamshire, having 
given them all the wood which is on the Burton side of 
the river Yore, for the purpose, as some of the accounts 
have it, of building Fountains Abbey itself with it, but 
as other accounts say, and much more likely to be 
true, for the purpose of building for themselves a cell at 
Aldburgh. Very shortly afterwards, Roger de Mow- 

* Funeral sermons had their origin in the funeral orations which used to 
be pronounced over deceased martyrs. Ten shillings was the usual fee for a 
funeral sermon, which was more than they were often worth. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 65 

bray, besides confirming to them what Earl Alan had 
previously granted to them, gave Aldburgh itself to 
them, with common of pasture in Swinton and Roomer ; 
he also gave them the dead wood, as well standing as 
lying, to make charcoal for their forge there ; and by a 
subsequent grant, he gave them a road for their cattle, 
to go from Aldburgh to feed on the moor between Swin- 
ton and Nidderdale, belonging to the Honor of Masham ; 
and one Richard de Hedona, a tenant of Roger de Mow- 
bray, also gave them sixty acres of land on Nutwith,* 
which he describes as being near to the camp, to the 
bounds of Aldburgh, and to the river. All subsequent 
accounts shew that at Aldburgh the monks of Fountains 
had a very extensive grange, as well as another at Pott- 
grange. Aldburgh-grange had, it seems, fallen into 
decay so early as the year 1363, and was then so ruinous 
(as stated in an Inquisition of that date) that the monks 
were not able to repair it. It was, however, repaired, 
and it remained in the hands of the monks of Fountains 
until the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, 
when it was seized and sold by King Henry VIII. It 
was purchased by Sir Roger Beckwith, in the year 1597, 

* Nutwith is derived from Canute, a man's name, which being Danish, is 
always pronounced and sometimes written as Cnut or Knut, and with (which 
is also Danish), a forest or wood — hence we have Canute's forest or wood. 
Some, however, suppose the name to have been derived from Nut, the well- 
known wild fruit of that name, and with, a wood, hence Nutwood. 

Nutwith Cote, which is situate near to Nutwith, is the residence of 
Thomas Edmundson, Esq. The house is very ancient, and contains a large 
quantity of black oak. The walls of one of the rooms are hung with Span- 
ish leather, bearing embossed devices, and figures of angels, bacchanalians, 
grapes, etc., in gold. 

Sir Patrick Mackie, of Largo, a lieutenant-colonel of horse in the Scotch 
army, appears to have had a temporary residence here, as a slab was found 
in the churchyard of Masham, in 1861, bearing the following inscription 
upon it—" Here lyeth the body of Sr. Patrick Mackie, of Largo, and lieu- 
tenant-coll, of horse in the Scots armie" — and on turning to the Register 
of Burials for Masham parish, I find the following entry concerning him, 
viz., « 1647— Nutwith Coate, Sr. Patrick Mackie, knight, was buryed the 
sexteenth day of January." 

F 



66 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



in whose family it remained until it was again sold to an 
ancestor of John Timothy D'Arcy Hutton, Esq., the 
present owner of it. 




CHAPTER HOUSE, JERVAUX ABBEY. 



The working of Mines in a district is also evidence of 
considerable progress having been made in the arts and 
civilization. No mention is made in the Domesday Sur- 
vey of there being any mines within Mashamshire, but it 
is certain that as early as the year 1250, iron mines were 
worked in it. In that year Sir John de Wauton, the 
then Lord of Mashamshire, by deed bound himself and 
his heirs to the monks of Jervaux, never to raise a forge 
in Colsterdale, nor give nor sell any iron mines therein, 
in order, as I suppose, that the working of such mines 
might not prove injurious to the grange which the monks 
of Jervaux then had in Colsterdale; or disturb their 
deer. 

In the year 1334, I find that there were also coal 
mines* in Colsterdale, and that Sir Jeonrey le Scrope, 
the then Lord of Mashamshire, by deed, granted to the 

* Coals were not in common use in England until the reign of Charles L, 
1625. The burning of them was thought to be prejudicial to human health, 
and were prohibited being used in London, and even smiths were obliged to 
burn wood in 1273. The coal mines in Colsterdale were worked much more 
extensively than they are at present, down to a period within the memory 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 67 

Abbot and Convent of Jervaux and their successors, 
for ever, the sole right of getting coals upon the wastes 
of Colsterdale, upon the payment to him of the annual 
rent of eight marks; and I also find that by another 
deed, dated in the same year, Sir Jeofirey le Scrope 
granted to the same monks a free way through all Mas- 
hamshire to their coal mines in Colsterdale, on payment 
to him of twenty quarters of coals yearly. I also find 
a coal mine mentioned in an Inquisition taken in the 
year 1392, as belonging to the Lords of Mashamshire, 
and which was then bringing in a rent of forty shillings 
a year, thereby shewing that it was worked even then 
on a pretty extensive scale ; for forty shillings a year was 
then a large sum. 

Lead, also, has been found in this parish. About 
the year 1709, when the colliers were following up a 
coal seam on Thorney Grane, about two miles and a half 
west of Colsterdale, they cut through several veins of 
lead. Lead was continued to be got there for several 
years afterwards, but proving unprofitable, the works were 
ultimately abandoned. In the adjoining dale of Md- 
derdale, however, lead mines appear to have been worked 
even so far back as in the time of the Romans. Some 
few years ago, a pig of lead* with Roman marks, and 
bearing the name of the reigning monarch upon it, 
was found there, and is now deposited in the British 
Museum. 

Having already mentioned Aldburgh-grange as be- 
longing to the monks of Fountains, and Colsterdale- 
grange as belonging to the monks of Jervaux, I ought 
not to omit mentioning that about the year 1201, Gilbert 

of some of the oldest inhabitants of the place, and were the means of intro- 
ducing a large number of families into this district, who have settled here. 

* The pig of lead here alluded to was discovered underground on Hay- 
shaw Moor, in the year 1731, half-way between the ancient lead mine north 
of Pateley Bridge and the Roman road from Ilkley (Olciana) to Aldbrough 
(Isurium). It weighs 1541bs., and is inscribed with the name of the Em- 
peror Domitian, when he was consul for the eighth time a.d. 82. 



68 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

de Wauton, the then Lord of Mashamshire, gave Pot- 
grange to the monks of Fountains, with a right of Com- 
mon upon Sowermire, and also fifteen acres of land in 
the fields of Masham, called Brathorne. Pot-grange, 
like Aldburgh-grange, remained with the monks of 
Fountains until the time of the dissolution of the mon- 
asteries, when it was seized by King Henry VIII., and 
by him granted out to Sir Richard Gresham, who, as 
patentee under the Crown, sold it, with other property, 
to Mr. William Singleton of Fountains, from whom Sir 
Thomas Danby bought it in the year 1586. 

Potteries also give us a notion of the advance of the 
people in the arts and civilization. There was anciently a 
pottery where Healey church now stands. The field in 
which the church was built was called the " Potter's 
field," and when the workmen were digging the founda- 
tions of the church, they found a large quantity of 
apparently refuse or mis-shaped pots. There appears, 
also, to have been another pottery at a place in Colster- 
dale, called " Potter's Pitt," where some clay -pits have 
evidently been worked, and where, also, mis-shapen pots 
have been found. This latter place was according to 
some old maps a very ancient inclosure from the moor. 

Besides these memorials of peace in by-gone days, 
we have others as indicative of war and bloodshed. 
Upon Roomer, and near to the houses there, is the site 
of a Roman camp, with a Tumulus near it, both yet 
plainly visible, and capable of being easily traced. Upon 
Nutwith, and in the centre of a wood, is the site of 
another camp, which tradition has always pointed out as 
" Mowbray's camp." There are, also, some earthworks 
upon Nutwith (and as such they are shewn upon the 
Ordnance maps), which are supposed to be the remains 
of a very ancient camp. There is, also, another of these 
camps in Colsterdale; and, according to a map of the 
Roman roads in Yorkshire, which has been published by 
the Royal Society of Antiquaries, it appears that there 
is a small oval camp in Swinton Park. But 






HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 69 

" Where once the steel-clad warrior trod, 
Spring renews her verdant wreath ; 
And o'er the once ensanguined sod, 

Flowers their mingled incense breathe. 
Where the clang of clarion rose, 
All is silence and repose ; 
Save where in yonder halls of state, 
The blackbird serenades his mate. 

Judging from the existence of these several camps 
within the parish — the history of the times — the devas- 
tation already alluded to as having been made in the 
parish, and the traditions* which have been handed down 
to us, we have much reason to believe that Mashamshire 
has on more than one occasion been a battle-field, where- 
on contending armies, actuated by fierce and hostile 
passions, have enacted deeds of bloodshed and carnage. 
Nor is there less reason to believe but that Mashamshire 
itself has in its time produced its own share of the bone 
and sinew by which such battles have been fought and 
won, in the shape of stalwart men. The brave and 
warlike character of our early lords, the times in which 
they lived, the chivalrous spirit of those times, and the 
tenure by which they held their manors and lands from 
the king, and by which too their vassals held such lands 
of them, as well as the page of history, all go to shew 
that both lords and vassals have each enacted their part hi 
many a sanguinary battle. Upon the Norman Conquest, 
the feudal system was introduced into this country in all 
its rigour, and the consequence of it was, that all the 
lands in the kingdom were divided into what were called 
knights' fees, in number above 60,000; that for every 
knight's fee, a knight or soldier was bound to attend the 

* The tradition, however, that Roger de Mowbray fought a battle with 
the Danes at Mowbray- Wath cannot be correct, as the incursions of the 
Danes had ceased long before his time, and Gospatric the Dane, was quietly 
enjoying his Manor of Masham Town at the time of the Conquest, and had 
quitted the place before Roger de Mowbray was born, as will be shewn in 
the course of these pages. There can be little doubt, however, that there 
is some truth in the tradition, that a battle was really fought there, but not 
with the Danes. 



70 



MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



King in his wars (and that, too, either within or without 
the realm), mounted and armed *f or forty days in every 
year. In this space of time (before war was reduced to 
a science, as it now is), the campaign was generally fin- 
ished, and the kingdom either conquered or victorious. 
By this means alone, the King had without any expense 
to himself, an army of upwards of 60,000 well-equipped 
men, always ready at his command ; and by the same 
law, the Lord's vassals were hi like manner bound to 
accompany their lords to such wars. 




MORNING OP THE TOURNAMENT. 

" Knights, with a long retinue of their squires, 
In gaudy liveries march, and quaint attires; 
One laced the helm, another held the lance, 
A third the shining huckler did advance. 
The courser paw'd the ground with restless feet, 
And snorting foam'd and champ'd the golden bit; 
The smiths and armourers on palfreys ride, 
Files in their hands, and hammers at their side, 
And nails for loosen'd spears, and thongs for shields provide. 
The yeomen guard the streets in seemly bands, 
And clowns come crowding on with cudgels in their hands." 

Palamon and Arcite. 

Thus from necessity alone, if not from choice, would 
our early lords and their vassals be bound to take part 
in the many wars and civil commotions and insurrections 
which disgraced the reigns of our early monarchs. This 
necessity, however, was not the sole cause which induced 
them to take part in such wars. Such was, indeed, the 
chivalrous spirit of those times, that most, if not all of 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 71 

them, were ever ready from the mere love of the excite- 
ment necessarily attendant on martial enterprises, if not 
from the promptings of loyalty, or love of country and 
their own aggrandizement, to draw the sword, and to 
incur the risks and dangers of war — that " malady of 
princes" — and that, too, for causes not always justifiable. 

" War is honourable 
In those who do their native rights maintain ; 
In those whose swords an iron barrier are 
Between the lawless spoiler and the weak ; 
But as in those who draw tbH offensive Made 
For added power or gain, sordid and despicable 

As meanest office of the worldly churl." 

Joanna Baillie. 

The promptings of loyalty and love of country was 
not, however, by any means wanting in the " Barons 
bold" of this highly favoured nation, for it is to them, 
and them only, that we owe the large measure of free- 
dom which we at present enjoy — 

" Yet Barons of the land ! to you 
A grateful people still retains 
Proud memory of the swords ye drew — 
The swords that brake a tyrant's chains, 
And planted Freedom on our plains ! 
For Freedom's cradle was the Keep, 

Her Guardians were the Barons bold ; 
Who placed her Temple on the Steep, 
And on her head a crown of gold ; 
And cried — ' The deed is done ! Behold 
Henceforth our British land shall be 
The glorious land of Liberty ! ' " 

Prompted by one or other of these motives to action, 
the Lords of Mashamshire, and with them, their nume- 
rous vassals and followers, have ever taken a prominent 
part in the military transactions of this country, and as 
such, have participated in the dangers as well as the 
glory of some of the most memorable wars in which 
this country has ever been engaged. Passing over the 
high military achievements accomplished by our earliest 
Lords, Earl Edwin and Earl Alan (as having taken 



72 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



place before the period I have referred to, namely, the 
introduction of the feudal system into this country), 
and of Nigel de Albini, another early and potent Lord, 
who was bow-bearer to King William Rufus, and was 
present at his death (because his valiant actions are 
more than effaced by the great devastation which he in 
his military capacity, and as a follower of the Conque- 
ror, assisted in bringing upon this district), we come to 
Roger de Mowbray, another early Lord, who, not to 
mention any other of the many battles in which he was 
engaged, the Rebellion which he raised in Yorkshire on 
behalf of Prince Henry against his father, Henry II., or 
his expeditions as a Crusader to the Holy Land — whilst 
he was yet a mere stripling, he not only fought at the 
head of his vassals from this and his other manors, but 
was one of the brave commanders at the memorable 
battle of the Standard,* fought at Northallerton, on the 






Figures of the Standard, from Aelred's " Historia de bello Standardi." 
* The immediate cause of this battle was the usurpation of King Stephen 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSH1BE. 73 

22nd of August, 1138, at which David Bruce, king of 
Scotland, whilst seeking to invade this country, was 
signally defeated, and thus was this district saved from 
a repetition of the fearful carnage and devastation which 
it had suffered on many former occasions from the 
repeated incursions of the Scots. 

In the ancient ballad on the " Battle of the Standard," 
fought on Cuton-moor, near Northallerton, David Bruce 
is made to say, on reviewing the two contending armies 
in battle array : 

" And whoo's yon youth I see 
A galloping o'er the moore ? 
Hys troopes that followe so gallantelye 
Proclayime hym a youthe of pow're." 

To which question the poet gives the following as the 
answer to it : 

" Young Roger de Mowbray is that youthe, 
And he's sprung of the royal line ; 
Hys wealthe and hys followers, oh King, 
Are allemost as greate as thyne." 

Sir JeofFrey le Scrope, another early Lord of Mas- 
hamshire, too, although bred to, and an adept in, 
another species of warfare, I mean that of the law (a 
warfare, by the way, which, whatever else it may do, 
spills no blood), was not the less valiant, and fought in 
many a battle-field, not only against the Scots but against 

of the Crown of England, which by right belonged to King David's sister, 
Matilda or Maud, usually called the Empress Maud from her having married 
the Emperor of Germany. This naturally provoked the Scots, as well as 
many of our English nobility, who accordingly took up arms against Ste- 
phen, with the purpose of placing the Empress, as the rightful heiress, on 
the English throne. 

The reason of this battle being called the " Battle of the Standard " was 
in consequence of its being fought under a Standard, made of a long pole 
like a ship's mast, which Thurstan, the Archbishop of York, brought from 
the convent of Beverley. It was mounted on a four-wheeled carriage, and 
had on the top of it, a silver crucifix, under which were suspended the 
banners of St. Peter of York, St. John of Beverley, and St. Wilfrid of 
Ripon, and above all, in a silver pix, the consecrated host. 



74 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the French, whilst his son, Sir Stephen Serope, also 
fought and distinguished himself at the memorable 
battle of Cressy, and the sieges of Calais and Berwick ; 
and another son, Sir William Serope, with equal valour, 
fought at the several battles of Scluse, Cressy, Neville's 
Cross near Durham, Espagnola-sur-mer, Poictiers, Ber- 
wick, and Najara, as well as at the siege of Calais. Sir 
Henry Serope, another Lord, fought as bravely at the 
siege of Berwick, and at the several battles of Hallidon 
Hill, Scluse, Cressy, Neville's Cross near Durham, Es- 
pagnola-sur-mer, and at the siege of Calais, all of which 
have been rendered famous in the annals of this country. 
Sir Stephen le Serope, another Lord, also served his 
country not less faithfully in the wars of France, and 
having taken upon him the cross and become a Crusader, 
went to the Holy Land to fight against the enemies of 
his religion, for the rescue of the holy places from the 
possession of the pagan Turks, and fought at the battle 
of Najara. Other Lords of Mashamshire have served 
their country as efficiently, and not less faithfully, in the 
arts of diplomacy, in the senate, the cabinet, and in high 
offices of State. 

Of this last number may be classed the unfortunate 
Henry Lord Serope, Treasurer of England, who was 
attainted and beheaded for high treason, in the reign of 
Henry V. 

As a history of Mashamshire could hardly be said to 
be complete unless it contained some account of the 
circumstances which led to the sad event I have last 
named, I purpose to state them here. 

In the summer of the year 1413, Henry V., actuated 
by those feelings of ambition which were no less natural 
to his age and character than consonant with the man- 
ners of the times in which he lived, but without the 
least shade of right to support his pretensions, laid 
claim to the Crown of France, as the heir of Isabella, 
the wife of Edward II. He accordingly sent Henry 
Lord Serope (of whom I am now speaking), and some 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 75 

others, as ambassadors to the Court of Charles VI., 
King of France, to make his unjust demand. This 
demand not being complied with, Henry V. determined 
to assert his pretended right by force of arms, and, ac- 
cordingly, in the month of July, 1415, ordered all his 
troops to repair to Southampton, where they were to 
embark, and whither he himself went with his court and 
retinue, including Henry Lord Scrope, Lord of Mas- 
hamshire, in order to superintend personally their em- 
barkation. About the end of July, 1415, whilst the 
King was preparing to embark, a treasonable conspiracy 
against the King's person and government was discover- 
ed, the conspirators being Richard Earl of Cambridge 
(brother of the Duke of York), Henry Lord Scrope of 
Masham (the Lord Treasurer of England), who so far 
possessed the confidence and friendship of the King, 
that he commonly lay in the same room with him, and 
Sir Thomas Grey of Heton (knight), who was a Privy 
Counsellor. Immediately on this discovery being made, 
the King, by his warrant, dated the 21st of July, 1415, 
commanded the Sheriff of Southampton to summon a 
jury, for the trial upon the spot of the parties impli- 
cated. The Earl of Cambridge, and Henry Lord Scrope, 
however, having claimed their privilege of being tried 
by their Peers, a commission was accordingly issued, 
and addressed to the Duke of Clarence, for their trial, 
who thereupon summoned Humphrey Duke of Glouces- 
ter, Edward Duke of York (who was allowed to name 
Thomas Earl of Dorset, as his deputy, probably on 
account of his near relationship to the Earl of Cam- 
bridge), Edmund Earl of March, the Earl of Hunting- 
don, the Earl of Arundel, John Earl Marshall, Thomas 
Earl of Salisbury, Eichard Earl of Oxford, Michael 
Earl of Suffolk, John Lord Clifford, Gilbert Lord Tal- 
bot, William Lord Zouche, John Lord Harrington, 
Robert Lord Willoughby, William Lord Clinton, John 
Lord Maltravers, Hugh Lord Bourchier, and Lord 
Bortreaux — " Lords and Magnates of England, and 



76 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Peers of the said Richard Earl of Cambridge, and Lord 
Scrope, being then present, and intended for the voyage 
of our Lord the King beyond the sea." 

The court, thus irregularly constituted, forthwith pro- 
ceeded as irregularly and as unconstitutionally with the 
trial of the prisoners. The prisoners, though one of 
them was a prince of the blood, were not even produced 
in court on the trial, or allowed to be heard in their own 
defence, but were tried behind their backs. No witnesses 
were indeed examined against them, the only evidence 
produced against them being the deposition which had 
been made by Sir John Popham, the constable of the 
Castle of Southampton, on the previous trial of Sir 
Thomas Grey, deposing to an alleged confession to him. 
Upon this evidence alone were the prisoners pronounced 
guilty, and sentence of death, as traitors, passed upon 
them, and they accordingly paid the forfeit of their lives 
on Monday, the 5th August, 1415. 

The Earl, being of the blood royal, was merely be- 
headed, u but" as is recorded in the Rolls of Parlia- 
ment, " to mark the perfidy and ingratitude of Scrope, 
who had enjoyed the King's utmost confidence and 
friendship, and had even shared his bed, he commanded 
that he should be drawn to the place of execution, and 
his head should be affixed on one of the gates of the 
city of York." 

What was alleged against the prisoners on their trial, 
if trial it may be called, was this — that on the 20th of 
July, 1415, the Earl of Cambridge and Sir Thomas 
Grey falsely and traitorously conspired to collect a body 
of armed men, to conduct Edmund Earl of March, to 
the frontiers of Wales, and to proclaim him the rightful 
heir to the Crown, in case Richard II. was actually 
dead; that they solicited Thomas Trumpyngton (who 
personated King Richard), Henry Percy, and many 
others from Scotland, to invade the realm; that they 
intended to destroy the King, the Duke of Clarence, 
the Duke of Bedford, and the Duke of Gloucester, with 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 77 

other Lords and great men, and that Henry Lord Scrope 
of Masham, consented to the said treasonable purposes, 
and concealed the knowledge of them from the King, 
These are the very words of the charge brought against 
them. 

Irregular and unjust as the proceedings on this trial 
were, there can be little doubt as to the guilt of the 
Earl of Cambridge, inasmuch as he confessed it, and 
such, his confession in his own handwriting, may now 
be seen in the British Museum. In this document, the 
Earl of Cambridge positively accuses his brother-in-law, 
the Earl of March (who it will be seen sat as one of his 
judges, and as such was one of those who condemned 
him to death), with assenting to the conspiracy, but 
at the same time he altogether exculpated Henry Lord 
Scrope 

Shakspere, in his play of " King Henry V.," repre- 
sents the King as thus reproaching Lord Scrope on that 
occasion : — ■ 

" What shall I say to thee Lord Scrope ; thou cruel, 
Ingrateful, savage, and inhuman creature ! 
Thou, that didst bear the key of all my counsels, 
That knewest the very bottom of my soul, 
That almost might have coined me into gold, 
Woulds't thou have practised on me for thy use ? 
May it be possible, that foreign hire 
Could out of thee extract one spark of evil, 
That might annoy my finger ? 'T is so strange, 
That, though the truth of it stands off as gross 
As black from white, my eye will scarcely see it. 
O, how hast thou with jealousy infected 
The sweetness of afiiance ! Shew men dutiful ? 
Why, so didst thou : seem they grave and learned ? 
Why, so didst thou : come they of noble family ? 
Why, so didst thou : seem they religious ? 
Why, so didst thou : or are they spare in diet ? 
Free from gross passion, or of mirth or anger ; 
Constant in spirit, not swerving with the blood ; 
Garnished and decked in modest complement ; 
Not working with the eye, without the ear, 
And, but in purged judgment, trusting neither ? 



78 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Such, and so finely bolted, didst thou seem. 
And thus thy fall hath left a kind of blot, 
To mark the full-fraught man, and best endued, 
With some suspicion. I will weep for thee ; 
For this revolt of thine, methinks, is like 
Another fall of man ! " 

King Henry V., Act il, Scene ii. 

Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, in speaking of this tran- 
saction, in his History of the Battle of Agincourt, says, 
" Historians have, however, generally confessed their 
utter inability to explain upon what grounds the con- 
spirators built their expectations of success, as unless 
they had been promised powerful assistance from France, 
the design seems to have been one of the most absurd 
and hopeless upon record." 

Cheap as human life seems to have been held in those 
semi-barbarous times, one can with difficulty bring 
oneself to believe it possible that any man, much less 
men of such mark and character as these prisoners were, 
could have been found guilty of such a serious crime, 
upon such evidence ; and still less that the King could, 
after the confession so made by the Earl of Cambridge, 
exculpating Lord Scrope, have allowed the sentence to 
be carried into effect. It seems, however, from the 
Rolls of Parliament, that M the King did before his 
death much repent to the Duke of Exeter of the taking 
away the land of the Lord le Scrope, upon the attainder 
of Henry, the last Lord;" and that the lands were after- 
wards restored to the family, with the full consent of 
Parliament, by whom the attainder was reversed. 

The historian Eapin, in speaking of this so-called 
trial and execution, and commenting upon its irregular- 
ity, says, " This was, as it were, the first spark of that 
flame which consumed, in process of time, the two 
Houses of Lancaster and York " — referring to the wars 
of the Roses, of which I shall have to speak hereafter. 

Whether Henry Lord Scrope, was or was not guilty 
of the traitorous act for which he forfeited his life, his 
successors in his honours and estates (whatever they felt 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 79 

on account of the gross injustice thus inflicted on their 
noble house), ever afterwards proved themselves as loyal 
to their King and country as to the faith which they 
have ever honestly and sincerely professed; and that, 
too, under circumstances the most trying to their con- 
stancy. 



Arms of Scrope. 

During the sanguinary dispute between the two 
Houses of Lancaster and York, known in history as the 
" War of the Roses,"* which lasted full thirty years, 
during which period no less than twelve regular pitched 
battles were fought within this kingdom, by Englishmen 
against Englishmen, at a cost of one hundred thousand 
lives, and above eighty royal princes fell by each other's 
swords, and the ancient nobility and gentry of this king- 
dom were almost entirely annihilated. The Scropes of 
Masham remained, throughout, faithful to their King, and 
to the cause of the red or Lancastrian Rose, whilst their 
kinsmen and their neighbours as warmly and as zealously 
espoused the cause of the white Rose of York, or 
changed about from side to side, as their interest for the 
time being led them. 

* These wars originated with the descendants of Edward III. That 
monarch was succeeded by his grandson Richard II., who being deposed, the 
Duke of Lancaster was proclaimed King, by the title of Henry IV., in 
prejudice to the Duke of York, the right heir to the crown — he being 
descended from Lionel, the second son of Edward III., whereas the Duke of 
Lancaster was the son of John of Gaunt, the third son of King Edward. 
Much regard, however, was not paid to strict legal succession to the English 
crown in those early days. 



80 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Whilst this unnatural war was thus raging, Margaret 
of Anjou, the Queen of our Henry VI., wishing to 
enlist the sympathies of the men of the North on be- 
half of her child, she, in the summer of 1459, carried 
the young Prince of Wales, her son, then only six years 
of age, in progress through the North. Whilst she was 
thus engaged, the Earl of Salisbury having placed him- 
self at the head of 5,000 men, raised in the neighbour- 
hood of his castle at Middleham,* marched thence to 
fight under the Standard of the Avhite Rose, and against 
his King. The result was the battle of Bloreheath, 
which was fought on the 23rd of September, 1459, and 
was won by the Lancastrians, when the Earls of War- 
wick, March (afterwards King Edward IV.), and Salis- 
bury, with many other noble adherents to the house of 
York, were obliged to consult their safety by flying to 
Calais. The cause of the house of Lancaster having 
thus prevailed, a few days afterwards, viz., on the 9th of 
October, 1459, Sir Thomas le Scrope, the then Lord of 
Mashamshire, received the honour of a summons to Par- 
liament as the fifth Lord Scrope of Masham, and on the 
19th of December following, he was further rewarded 
with the grant of an annuity of twenty marks, for his 
services against the house of York — a sufficient proof 
of his devotion and loyalty to his King. He did not, 
however, live long enough to see the termination of the 
war, by the final overthrow of the house of York, on 
Bos worth field, on the 22 nd of August, 1485. His son 
and successor, Sir Thomas Scrope, however, following 
the example of his sire, still adhered to the cause of the 
red Rose, and served his King and country in several 
important missions. His adherence to the red Rose, it 
appears, did not, it seems, prevent his having the honour 
of being present on the 6th July, 1483, at the coronation 
of Richard III. and his Queen Anne (the daughter of 
the great Earl of Warwick), and of being appointed 

* Here we have the men of Mashamshire in the very midst of the horrors 
of war. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 81 

cup-bearer on the occasion (see Bentley's Excerpta His- 
torica, page 384); having previously to this, viz., on 
22nd Edward IV., A. d. 1482, received a summons to 
Parliament, as sixth Baron Scrope of Masham. 

On the 17th of April, 1486, soon after the accession 
of Henry VII. to the throne, whilst he was at Ponte- 
fract Castle, and in the course of a progress which he 
was making in the northern parts, for the purpose of 
attaching the nobility and gentry of the north to his 
interests, he received intelligence that Lord Lovel, for- 
merly chamberlain to Richard III., had raised a force of 
some 3000 or 4000 men in the neighbourhood of Ripon 
and Middleham,* and that he had thrown himself and 
a body of insurgents between Middleham and York, 
with the intention of surprising him at his intended 
entry into York. The King, on hearing this intelligence, 
collected together, as well as he could, a small force, in 
order to meet the insurgents, which he placed under the 
command of the Duke of Bedford, with directions not 
to approach the enemy, but to try first every proper 
expedient in order to get them to disperse peaceably. 
Accordingly the Duke published a general offer of par- 
don to all such as should return to their duty. This 
had the desired effect, and the rebel army immediately 
dispersed. Lord Lovel, after lurking some time in Lan- 
cashire, made his escape into Flanders, whilst a few of 
his followers were, by way of example, executed by the 
Earl of Northumberland. How far, or to what extent, 
the Lord, or the people, of Mashamshire were implicated 
in this rising, I have not been able to make out. 




* Here again we have our Mashamshire men involved in the turmoils of 
war. 

G 






82 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Another occurrence of a still more extraordina^ 
character took place at Masham, immediately after this 
event. I refer to the presence there of the Pretender, 
Lambert Symnel (under the assumed title of Edward 
VI.), together with Lords Lincoln and Lovel, and a 
considerable army, with the avowed object of disputing 
the King's title to the crown, and of claiming it for the 
Pretender, who was represented to be the youthful 
Edward Plantagenet Earl of Warwick, and son of the 
Earl of Clarence, who had escaped from the Tower of 
London. 

This Earl of Warwick was indisputably the next heir 
of the house of York, after the Princess Elizabeth, and 
was at one time treated by his Uncle Richard III. as 
heir apparent to the crown, but was afterwards confined 
by him as a prisoner in Sheriff-Hutton castle, for fear 
of any claim being set up on his behalf to the crown. 
When Henry VII. came to the throne, he having equal 
cause to fear danger from the same cause, had the Earl 
of Warwick removed from Sheriff- Hutton castle to the 
Tower of London. A report having got into circulation, 
and generally believed, that the youthful Earl of War- 
wick had made his escape from the Tower, it occurred 
to a wicked young priest of Oxford, of the name of 
Richard Simon, to attempt to personate the Earl of 
Warwick, and accordingly procured for the purpose a 
boy of about the same age as Warwick. This boy was 
Lambert Symnel, the son of a baker at Oxford, who is 
described as being a youth of handsome exterior, good 
address, and endowments of mind above his years. The 
priest forgetful of his own holy calling, at once proceeded 
to teach the lad the art of lying and dissimulation, and so 
well did he succeed in it that he very soon got him so 
well initiated into the part which he had to perform, 
that the boy was soon able to relate, with apparent 
accuracy, his supposed adventures at Sheriff-Hutton, 
and in the Tower, and his escape. So well instructed 
did he appear, it was remarked that he was better 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 83 

informed of circumstances relating to the royal family, 
particularly in the adventures of the Earl of Warwick, 
than he could be supposed to have learned from one in 
Simon's condition. It was therefore thought that some 
persons of higher rank, partisans of the house of York, 
had had some hand in the instruction of him. 

In the month of November, 1486, the priest landed 
in Dublin with the lad, when he presented him to the 
Earl of Kildare, the Lord-Deputy, and the Chief of the 
Yorkists in Ireland, under the name of the Earl of 
Warwick, and implored the protection of that nobleman 
on behalf of that young and innocent prince, who by 
escaping from the Tower had avoided a fate similar to 
that of his unfortunate cousins, the sons of Edward IV. 
It was no doubt good policy in the priest in chosing 
Ireland as the place where the claims of the Pretender 
were to be first introduced to notice, as that island was 
known to be zealously attached to the house of York, 
and to bear an affectionate regard to the memory of 
Clarence, the Earl of Warwick's father, who had been 
their Lieutenant, and being a people of lively imagina- 
tion, and warm feelings, gave a ready and a willing ear 
to the priest's story, and accordingly a generous sym- 
pathy spread from heart to heart for the young hero of 
it, and the whole people of Dublin, with one consent 
tendered their allegiance to the boy as the .true Plan- 
tagenet. 

The Earl of Lincoln, of whom I have lately spoken, 
was one of the first to espouse openly the cause of the 
impostor. He made straightway to Flanders, to concert 
with his aunt, Margaret of York, and Duchess of Bur- 
gundy, the means of dethroning Henry VII. , and to 
solicit her support to the undertaking. The Duchess, 
who hated Henry with an implacable hatred, immediately 
agreed to furnish the Earl with two thousand Burgun- 
dian soldiers. The Priest and the boy were again joined 
by the Earl of Lincoln, and his Burgundian soldiers, as 
well as by Lord Lovel and others. In the month of 



84 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

May 1487, the impostor was proclaimed in Dublin by 
the style of Edward VI., King of England and France 
and Lord of Ireland, and was crowned in the Cathedral 
Church of Dublin, in the most solemn fashion, the Bishop 
of Meath performing the ceremony, and there being no 
royal crown at hand, they took a golden diadem from a 
statute of the Virgin Mary, which answered the pur- 
pose as well as the best. The whole island followed 
the example of the capital, and not a sword was any- 
where drawn on behalf of the King, Henry VII. 

All having thus gone on well in Ireland for the im- 
postor, the rebel army now resolved on striking the blow, 
by making an attempt on England : they embarked ac- 
cordingly for England, and landed at Foudrey in Lan- 
cashire. The army on its landing consisted of about 
eight thousand German and Irish troops, but was after- 
wards increased at Swatmore, near Ulverstone, by the 
accession there of the tenantry of Sir Thomas Broughton. 
The Earl of Lincoln, who was their commander, expected 
that the inhabitants in the disaffected countries in the 
north would rise and join his standard, but in this he 
was mistaken. The rebel army having passed rapidly 
across Lancashire and Westmoreland, within four days 
after their landing in England, arrived here at Masham, 
where they took up their quarters. It is supposed, that 
they selected this route through Yorkshire, on account 
of its bringing them near to Bolton-Castle, the residence 
of Lord Scrope of Bolton, who was distinguished for 
his attachment to the house of York, and thence into 
the neighbourhood of Middleham, On arriving here, 
the lords Lincoln and Lovel, despatched to the Lord 
Mayor and Corporation of York, the following letter, in 
the name of the counterfeit King, commanding that 
lodgings, victuals, &c, should be provided for them in 
that city. 

"By the King — 

To our Trusty and well-beloyed the Mayor, his brethren and Comunaltye 
of our Citie of York. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 85 

Trusty and well-beloved we grete you wele, and forsoniuch as we beene 
comen within this our realme, not oonlly by Godde's grace, to atteyne our 
righte of the same, but also for the relief and well of our said realme you and 
all othre our true subgiettes which hath bene gretely inj ured and oppressid in 
default of nowne ministracion of good rules and justice desire therefor, and in 
our right herty wise pray you that in this behalve ye woll shew unto us your 
good aidez and favourez. And where we and such power as we have broght 
with us, by meane of travalye of the see and upon the land, beene gretely 
weryed and laboured, it woll like you that we may have relief and ease of 
logeing and vitailles within our Citie ther, and soo to depart and truly pay 
for that as we shall take; and in your soo doing ye shall doo thing unto us 
of right acceptable pleaser, and for the same find us your good and souverain 
lord at all tymes herafter, and of your disposcions herein to acertain us by 
this bringer. 

Yevene undre our signet at Masham the viij day of Juyn." 

A copy of this letter, with the Resolutions of the 
Magistracy upon it, is entered in one of the Registers 
now in the municipal archives of the City of York. 
The following is a copy of the Resolution alluded to, as 
copied from the Register. 

" The which Letter was immediately sent to the Earl of Northumberland 
for to see : and a copy of the same was sent to Sir Richard Tunstall, and 
another delivered to master Payne, to show it to the king's grace; and fur- 
ther what the Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and common Counsel of the City 
of York, assembled in the Counsel-Chamber within the Guildhall departed 
from the Counsel, and commanded and was agreed, that every Warden 
should be in Harness and raise his ward, and keep due watch that no person 
should have entry into the said City, but such as be true Liege-men unto our 
Sovereign Lord the King Henry VII. And the said Mayor incontinently, 
by the advice of his brethren Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Common Counsel 
aforesaid, sent a Message unto the said Lords of Lincoln and Lovel, three 
of the Chamberlains, giving them in commandment to shew unto the said 
Lords, that my Lord the Mayor, my masters his brethren Aldermen, Sheriffs, 
Common Counsel, with the whole commonality of the City of York, be 
finally determined, that he, whom the said Lords called their King, they, 
nor none of their Retenue or Company intending to approach this city, 
should have any entry into the same, but to withstand them with their 
bodies and Goods, if they would atteyne so to do." 

It will be seen by the above very verbose minute, that 
the Mayor refused to comply with the commands con- 
tained in the above Letter, and that the City Chamber- 
lains were dispatched to convey the refusal to Lords 



86 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Lincoln and Lovel. The rebel leaders, it appears had 
left Masham, and had reached Boroughbridge on their 
way to York, when this hostile answer was delivered to 
them. On receiving it they changed their course, and 
proceeded direct for London. Within a week afterwards 
the rebels, who had then advanced as far as Stoke, near 
Newark, were intercepted by the Earl of Oxford, (who 
led the van of the King's army,) and brought to battle 
on Saturday, the 16th June. The battle was fierce and 
obstinate for about three hours, during which time the 
result was doubtful, but at length, the rebels were en- 
tirely routed, with the loss of about half their number. 
His majesty Edward VI. (now plain Lambert Symnel) 
and the Priest, were taken prisoners, the Earl of Lincoln, 
the Lords Thomas, and Maurice, Fitzgerald, and Sir 
Thomas Broughton, died fighting. The Lord Lovel 
was seen to escape from the field, but was never more 
seen, and it was believed that he was drowned in at- 
tempting to swim his horse across the Trent. Several 
of the principal insurgents were afterwards hanged upon 
a gibbet at York. The Priest was made to confess the 
imposture, and then thrown into prison, where he per- 
ished, but the pretended Edward VI. obtained his par- 
don, was made a scullion in the royal kitchen, and 
afterwards, as a reward for his good conduct, raised to 
the office of falconer. 

But to retnrn to the minutes of the proceedings at 
York, where they all seem to have been in a great state 
of alarm and excitement. The minutes proceed thus : — 

" On Tuesday, after Trinity Sunday, Lords Scrope of Bolton and Upsale, 
came on horseback to Bootham Bar, and there cried king Edward, and made 
an assault at the Gates, but they were put to flight. The Mayor, &c, then 
proclaimed King Henry VII. 

" And upon Sonday at iii of the clok in the morying, tidinges came to my 
Lord Maier, from the feld, howe Almighty God had sent the King Victorye 
of his ennymies and rebelles, and thereupon my Lord Maier, taking with 
hyme his brethre Aldremen with the 'ol Counsaill of this Citie— upon cer- 
taine knowledge of the victory aforesaid, shewed by the mouthe of a servant 
~ F AT ^ f ~' "Recordour comying streught from the said feld — came to the 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 87 

Cathedral Church of York, and there caused all the ministres of the same ta 
make lovinges to our Saveour for the tryumphe and victory 'foresaid, singing 
solemplye in the high qwere of the said Church, the Psalme of Te deum 
laudamus with othre suffraiges." * 

From the mention above of " Lords Scrope and Upsale" 
it will be seen, that, although Thomas Lord Scrope, of 
Masham and Upsall, did not actually join the rebel army, 
his sympathies were with them. What could have 
induced him to have entered into so mad a project can- 
not now be divined. 




THE ARSIOURER. 



In the spring of the year 1489, great discontent 
appears to have arisen in this district, in consequence of a 
subsidy which had been granted by Parliament to King 
Henry VII. for carrying on the war in Bretagne. The 
people in the neighbourhood refused to pay it, and 
assembling in a tumultous manner around the residence 
of Henry Percy the fourth Earl of Northumberland, at 
Topcliffe, and being further inflamed by some indiscreet 
expressions which then dropt from the Earl, who as 
Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire, represented the King, 
they at once fell upon him and murdered him. This 
sad occurrence took place on the 28th April, 1489, and 
it is the more to be regretted, on account of his being a 

* See " Original Documents relating to Lambert Symnel's Rebellion in 
the second year of the reign of King Henry the VII., selected from the 
Municipal Archives of the City of York, by Robert Davies, Esq., F.S.A. 



88 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

most exemplary nobleman, and one who had previously 
enjoyed a high degree of popular favour. 

In the month of July 1503, on the Princess Margaret, 
the eldest daughter of Henry VII. , visiting Yorkshire, 
on her way to Scotland, to consummate her marriage with 
James IV., King of Scotland, we find the nobility and 
gentry of the County, vying with each other in the 
endeavour to do honour to her on the interesting occasion. 
Amongst the number who thus honoured her, was 
Henry the seventh Baron Scrope, of Masham and Upsal, 
" in company of many gentylmen well appointed, and 
ther folke in suchwise." 

The following amusing stanzas upon the subject of 
this intended marriage occur in Evans's Ballads : — 

" O fair, fairest of every fair, 
Princess most pleasant and preclare 
The lustiest alive that be, 
Welcome to Scotland to be Queen. 

Young tender plant of pulchritud, 
Descended of imperial blood, 
Fresh fragrant flower of fairhood sheen, 
Welcome to Scotland to be Queen. 

Sweet lusty imp of beauty clear, 
Most mighty King's daughter dear, 
Born of a Princess most serene, 
Welcome of Scotland to be Queen. 

Welcome the rose both red and white, 
Welcome the flower of our delight, 
Our spirit rejoicing from the spleen, 
Welcome of Scotland to be Queen." 

Little did Henry Lord Scrope dream, when he was 
thus acting the courtier, and doing honour to this 
beautiful and ^interesting Princess, on her approaching 
nuptials, that, in the course of a very few years, he him- 
self would assist in making her a widow, and her future 
child an orphan. Yet so it happened. At the battle of 
Flodden Field, in which her husband was slain, Henry 
Lord Scrope fought at the head of the men of Masham- 
shire, in the vanguard of the English army. This battle, 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 89 

so disastrous to Scotland, and the Scotch, was fought on 
the 9th September, 1513, at Flodden Field in Scotland, 

" Where shivered was fair Scotland's spear, 
And broken was her shield." 

In it fell, not only James IV., King of Scotland (the 
brother-in-law to our Sovereign Henry VIII.,) but also 
all his nobility, together with 8000 or 9000 men. Of 
this battle, Sir Walter Scott says, " Scarce a Scottish 
family of eminence but has an ancestor killed at Flodden 
Field ; and there is no province in Scotland, even at this 
day, where the battle is mentioned without a sensation 
of terror and sorrow." 

From an old ballad on this battle, preserved in Weber's 
edition, it will be seen, that the Lord of Mashamshire, 
under the designation of " Lord Scroop, of Upsall," and 
the men of Mashamshire, are made to take a prominent 
part in the battle of Flodden Field. 

The marshalling of the Richmondshire-men at the battle of 

Flodden-Field. 

Lord Lomly and Latimer, 



Were equal match't with all their power; 
With whom was next their neighbours near, 

Lord Coniers stout and stiff in stoure, 
With many a gentleman and Squire, 

From Rippon, Ripley, and Ryedale; 
With them marcht forth all Massamshire, 

With Noisterfield and Netherdale: 
With till-men taught in harness store, 

Which turned the furrows of Mitton-field 
With bill-men bold from Blackamore, 

Most warlike wights these lords did wield. 
Next whom was placed with all his power, 

Lord Scroop of Upsall, tKaged Knight. 

* * # # # 

All these in foremost battle bold, 

These valiant wights in vanguard were. 

# # * # # 

John Clarvice then was 'nexed near, 
With Stapylton of stomach stern ; 



90 MASHAM AND MASHAMSIIIRE. 

Next whom Fitzwilliam forth did fare, 

Who martial feats was not to learn. 
These Captains keen, with all their might, 

In right-hand wing did warlike wend. 

The Earl himself can undertake 

Of the rearward the regiment; 
Whom harons bold did bravely back, 

And Southren soldiers, seemly bent, 
Next whom in place was 'nexed near, 

Lord Scroop of Bolton, stern and stout, 
On horseback who had not his peer; 

No Englishman, Scots more did doubt. 
With him did wend all Wensadale, 

From Morton unto Moisdale moor; 
All they that dwelt by the banks of Swale, 

With him were bent in harness stour. 
From Weresdale warlike wights did wend, 

From Bishopsdale went bowmen bold; 
From Coverdale to Cotter-end, 

And all to Kidton causeway cold. 
From Mollerstang and Middleham, 

And all from Mask and Midleconby ; 
And all that climb the mountain cam, 

Whose crown from frost is seldom free. 
With lusty lads, and large of length, 

Which dwelt at Seimerwater side; 
All Richmondshire, its total strength 

The lusty Scroop did lead and guide. 

Henry Lord Scrope of Masham, did not long survive 
this his victory over the Scots, at Flodden-Field. He 
was succeeded in his title and estates, by his two 
brothers Ealph and Geoffrey, who held them in succes- 
sion. They too lived but a very short time to enjoy 
them, the last of them having died in the year 1517, 
without issue. The male branch of the house of Scrope, 
of Masham, having thus become extinct, the dignity fell 
into abeyance between the issue of Geoffrey Scrope's 
three sisters, Marjery, the wife of Sir Christopher Danby,* 

* From a well authenticated Pedigree which has been placed in my hands, 
it would seem that Charles J. H. Mundy, Esq., of Ormsby, in Lincolnshire, 
is lineally descended from, and is now the Heir-at-law, and representative 
of Margery the wife of Sir Christopher Danby. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 91 

Elizabeth, the wife of Sir Ralph Fitz Randolf, of Spenni- 
thorne, and Alice, the wife of Sir James Strangways, of 
Harlsey, amongst whom the real estates also descended. 
On a Partition of the Estates soon afterwards taking 
place amongst the three co-heiresses named, Masham- 
shire fell to the share of Marjery Danby, which intro- 
duces us to a new race of Lords of Mashamshire. 

I cannot better conclude my remarks as to the family 
of the Scropes of Masham, (of whom I very reluctantly 
now take leave,) than by quoting the following from 
Burke's General Armory. In speaking of the Barons 
Scrope of Bolton, and the Barons Scrope of Masham and 
Upsal, he says : " The great house of Scrope traced in 
an unbroken male line from the Conquest, if not from 
the time of Edward the Confessor, produced in a period 
of three hundred years from the reign of Edward II. to 
that of Charles L, two Earls and twenty Barons, one 
Chancellor, four Treasurers, and two Chief Justices, one 
Archbishop, and two Bishops, five Kinghts of the Gar- 
ter, and numerous Bannerets. The last Lord Scrope of 
Bolton, Emanuel Earl of Sunderland, died without 
legitimate issue in 1627, when the higher title became 
extinct, and the Barony of Scrope devolved on Mary, 
wife of William Bowes, Esq., of Streatlam, and only 
daughter of Henry, ninth Lord. It is now vested in the 
family of Jones, of Caton, in the County of Lancaster. 
The Barony of Scrope of Masham, is in abeyance among 
the descendants of the sisters and co-heiresses of GefFerey, 
the ninth Lord. — Az., a bend, Or. In 1385, Sir Richard 
le Scrope, first Baron Scrope of Bolton, challenged the 
right of Sir Robert Grosvenor to bear the Coat Az., a 
bend, Or; and the memorable suit, instituted for the 
decision of this heraldic controversy, lasted upwards of 
four years, and was at length awarded in favour of 
Scrope, who established, by the evidence of a vast num- 
ber of deponents, consisting of the most distinguished 
men of the day, from John of Gaunt, the King's Uncle, 
to Chaucer the Poet, who was then Squire at arms, that 



92 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

his ancestors had continually borne the contested arms 
from the Conquest. — Crest, — Issuing out of a ducal 
Coronet, a Crab. The sons of Sir Richard le Scrope, 
first Lord Scrope of Bolton, assumed for Crest — Out 
of a ducal coronet, a plume of Ostrich feathers." 

Sir Christopher Danby, the husband of Marjery Scrope, 
did not long survive his unexpected good fortune, having 
died in the following year, leaving his son Christopher, 
(afterwards Sir Christopher Danby) a youth of fifteen 
years of age, as his successor. 

This last mentioned Sir Christopher Danby, young as 
he was when his father died, was already a husband, 
having, at the early age of twelve years taken to himself 
for wife, Elizabeth, the third daughter of his near neigh- 
bour, Richard Neville, second Lord Latimer, who then 
resided at Snape- Castle. The marriage contract for this 
young pair is still in existence, and is dated the 6 Henry 
VIIL, a.d. 1514, from which it appears, that the lady's 
fortune was six hundred marks, or AOOl. of our money. 
This lady was sister to John Neville, afterwards third 
Lord Latimer, and the husband of Catharine Parr, who 
ultimately became the sixth and last wife of King 
Henry VIII . She was also sister to Susan, the wife of 
Richard Norton, of Norton-Conyers, the real leader of 
the Rebellion of 1569, known in history as " The Rising 
of the North," as well as otherwise connected with some 
others of those who afterwards participated in that sad 
and disastrous affair. 

Sir Christopher Danby being a minor at his father's 
death, was in wardship under King Henry VIIL until 
he was twenty-one years of age. 

He came into the full possession of his estates at a very 
eventful period in the history of this country, and having 
lived to a good old age, he witnessed the events which 
took place not only during the last twenty-eight years 
of Henry VIII.'s reign, but the whole of his son Edward 
VI. 's, and his daughter Queen Mary's reigns, and the first 
fourteen years of his daughter Queen Elizabeth's reign. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 93 

During that period, he was the melancholy witness to 
the final overthrow of that religion which had for gener- 
ations been cherished by his ancestors, and to which 
he himself was warmly and zealously attached, — the 
Churches in which he and his forefathers had worshipped, 
taken possession of by men, whom he in his conscience 
believed to be heretics, and enemies to religion, — the 
very altars and adornments which had been reared by 
the pious zeal of her worshippers, to the honour and 
glory of their Maker, ruthlessly thrown down, and 
desecrated, and that too, in the name of religion, — her 
revenues,* the pious gifts of his forefathers, which had 
been given by them out of their own substance, and 
solemnly set apart, and consecrated by them, to be used 
in all time to come, solely for the advancement of their 
Redeemer's kingdom here on earth, sacrilegiously seized 
upon and appropriated by impious hands, to the most 
unholy purposes, — the monasteries,! the abodes of peace- 

* " Men gave their lands as they declare in the Deed of Gift ' for the 
glory of God,' and they charged what they so gave with the maintenance of 
masses: if reformation had been desired, this condition would have been 
repealed ; but this would not have gorged the fatal covetousness, which, by 
confiscating the endowments, ran headlong into the guilt of sacrilege. But 
again, was all the confiscated property of the nature above described ? Oar 
own experience can answer. Were the tithes (now unpropriated) of much 
more than half the parishes of England, given to superstitious uses ? Were 
the glebe-lands, and glebe-houses, of our poor vicarages (now in the hands 
of laymen), superstitious and unholy things ? This part of the spoil was 
taken strictly from the Clergy." — Wiberforce. 

t The Rev. I. J. Blunt (Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge,) in his 
"Sketch of the Reformation in England," thus speaks of the monasteries; 
" As we know not, says the proverb, what the well is worth till it is dry, 
so was it found after the dissolution, that with all their faults, the monas- 
teries had been the refuge for the destitute, who were now driven to frightful 
extremities throughout the country, the effect of the suppression being with 
respect to them the same as would now follow from the sudden abolition of 
the poor laws : that they had been the alms houses, where the aged dependants 
of more opulent families, the decrepid servant, the decayed artificer, retired 
as to a home nor uncomfortable nor humiliating : that they had been the 
country infirmaries and dispensaries, a knowledge of medicine and of the 
virtues of herbs being a department of monkish learning (as passages in the 



94 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



ful and holy monks, (notwithstanding all that Henry 
VIII. 's hireling Commissioners,* and lying calumnia- 
tors, have said to the contrary) and which had been for 
ages past, the sole nurseries of religion and learning, 
dissolved, and their inmates (if not hanged) scattered, 
and sent out to the wide world to seek a refuge, and an 
asylum, where they could find one. The revenues on 
which those good men subsisted, and which they faith- 
fully dispensed in charity for the support of the poor, 
the halt, and the blind of the land, seized upon, and 
appropriated, by that most avaricious and licentious of 




A CISTERCIAN MONK. 



old dramatic writers sometimes indicate,) and a hospital, and perhaps, a 
laboratory, being component parts of a monkish establishment : that they 
had been foundling hospitals, relieving the state of many orphan and outcast 
children, and ministering to their necessities, God's ravens in the wilderness 
(neither so black as they had been represented), bread and flesh in the morn- 
ing, and bread and flesh in the evening : that they had been inns for the 
wayfaring man, who heard from afar the sound of the vesper-bell at once 
inviting him to repose and devotion, and who might sing his matins with 
the morning star, and go on his way rejoicing." 

* Mr. Thorn in his " Rambles by Rivers," says, " these Commissioners 
were the greatest scoundrels in this Country, excepting their master." And 
so they were. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 95 

all licentious kings, King Henry VIII. and his obsequious 
nobles, — and still more, — good and religious people, not 
only mulcted in pecuniary penalties and stripped of their 
property and possessions, and otherwise persecuted for 
conscience- sake, but dragged to the stake, and burnt as 
heretics, because, forsooth, they could not and would not, 
in their consciences, believe and declare that that base 
libertine, King Henry VIII., and his not less infamous 
daughter Queen Elizabeth, were " The only supreme 
head on earth of the Church," as they impiously assumed 
to be. 

The suppression of the monasteries and religious 
houses and institutions, and the appropriation of the 
property of the Church by the King,* and the turning 
out of so many monks, nuns, sick, and aged people to 
starve, or beg their bread, so exasperated the people, 



* Mr. Blunt in his work before cited, says, " The convulsion felt throughout 
the country on this memorable occasion, was probably more violent than any 
which it has experienced, either before or since. The joints of Society were 
thoroughly loosed: a vast proportion of the population was turned adrift 

upon the wide world, their employment gone, their relief gone too 

Cromwell, who was the King's political adviser throughout this great 
measure, felt the state rocking under him, and suggested the sale of the 
Abbey-lands and tithes to the nobles and gentry, that by this means the 
leading persons in every County might be pledged to support the new order of 
things, and be tied by the tooth. Thus popish lands, as it was said, made 
protestant landlords, and thus the lay impropriator, a character hitherto 
almost, or altogether unknown, took his beginning. How far the country 
was a gainer by the exchange of ecclesiastical for other landlords may be 

questioned The monks gave a miserable stipend to their Vicar, ' but 

now,' says one Henry Brinklow, in a curious address to the members of both 
houses shortly after the dissolution, ' there is no Vicar at all, but the farmer 
is Vicar and parson altogether : and only an old castaway monk or friar, 
which can scarcely say his matins, is hired for twenty or thirty shillings, 
[a year] meat and drink; yea in some places, for meat and drink alone, 
without any wages.' ' I know,' he continues, ' and not I alone, but twenty 
thousand men know, more than five hundred vicarages and parsonages thus 
well and gospelly served after the new gospel of England,' and so crying was 
this evil, for even great parishes and market towns were utterly destitute of 
the word of God, that there was nothing for it but to ordain the lowest me- 
chanics to these worthless benefices." 



96 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

especially of this district, who not only then, but for 
generations afterwards, clung with the greatest tenacity to 
" the old religion," that large multitudes rose in open 
rebellion and demanded the redress of these grievances, 
and the re-establishment of the Catholic religion, and the 
Monastic Institutions. In the work called a Richmond- 
shire Wills," by the Rev. James Raine, M.A., a worthy 
and talented Clergyman of the Church of England, and 
published by the Surtees Society, it is stated " In no 
part of England was there more attachment to the old 
religion than in this district," and " Henry Jenkins 
after the lapse of one hundred years, could well remem- 
ber the grief and dismay which was everywhere exhi- 
bited at the dissolution of the religious houses." 

The first most notable of these risings was the ill-fated 
insurrection, " The Pilgrimage of Grace," which took 
place in October 1536. It was not confined to the com- 
mon people only, the nobility and gentry, the former 
patrons of the dissolved houses, having also joined the 
standard of revolt. The Archbishop of York, the Lords 
Neville, D'Arcy, Lumley, and Latimer,* Sir Robert 
Constable, Sir John Bulmer, Sir Stephen Hamilton, Sir 
Thomas Percy (brother of the Earl of Northumberland) 
and many other Knights and gentlemen of the north, 
were amongst the insurgents, who amounted in number 
to upwards of 40,000 men. The enterprise, however, 
resulted in complete failure — Lord D'Arcy, Robert Aske 
(the nominal leader of the insurrection) and many others, 
were taken and executed. The Abbots of Fountains, 
Jervaux, and Rivaulx, the Prior of Bridlington, and 
others, were executed at Tyburn. Sir Robert Constable 
was hanged in chains at Hull ; Aske was suspended from 

* This was John Neville, third Lord Latimer of Snape-Castle, and brother 
to Sir Christopher Danby's wife. He was one of those deputed by the 
rebels to treat with the Duke of Norfolk, then advancing at the head of an 
army against them. Notwithstanding that Lord Neville had thus waged 
war against Henry VIII. and his authority, that Monarch, it appears, did 
not think his widow (Catherine Parr) the less eligible for his sixth wife. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 97 

a tower at York ; D'Arcy* was beheaded on Tower-hill 
in London; and seventy-four of the officers were hung 
on the walls of Carlisle. Many of those who suffered, 
either in person or estate, in consequence of this ill- 
starred rebellion, were connexions or friends of the 
Danbys; and the hard fate which had thus befallen 
their friends, did not tend to make them a whit the more 
in love with either the authors, f or the objects, J of the 
so-called Reformation. 

Unsuccessful, and disastrous, as this insurrection 
proved, such was the discontent of the people that it 
did not prevent other similar attempts being made, but 
on a smaller scale, with the same object ; but which proved 
equally unavailing. 

In the year 1569, however, the disaffection of the peo- 
ple as to Queen Elizabeth's conduct in matters of reli- 
gion, had reached to such a pitch, that according to Sir 
Ralph Sadler's account, there were scarcely ten gentle- 

* Lord D'Arcy was the son of Sir William D'Arcy, by Euphemia the 
daughter of Sir Thomas Langton of Farnley, and was thus related to the 
Danbys. He was also a grandson of Eleanor, the daughter of John Lord 
Scrope of Masham; and Lord Lumley was husband to Joane, the daughter of 
Henry Lord Scrope of Bolton. 

t It is well known that the English Reformation was brought about 
mainly by King Henry VIII. and Archbishop Cranmer. Of the character 
of the former, little need be added to the observations I have already made 
respecting him, except, that it was said of him, and that truly, when he died, 
that " throughout his long reign he neither spared man in his anger, nor 
woman in his lust." And as to Cranmer, I will content myself with merely 
giving the following short extract from Lord Macauley's History of England, 
in which he describes Cranmer as " Saintly in his professions, unscrupulous 
in his dealings, zealous for nothing, bold in speculation, a coward and a time- 
server in action, a placable enemy and a lukewarm friend" — a character not 
by any means to be envied, but better than he deserved. 

X The immediate object of the Reformation was to enable King Henry 
VIII. to get rid of his lawful wife, Catharine of Aragon — to whom he had 
been married some twenty years, during the course of which she had the 
misfortune, in common with the rest of human kind, of growing old and 
plain — and to marry Anne Boleyn, who had the advantage of being young, 
and of possessing superior charms for the voluptuous monarch. 

H 



98 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



men of note who approved of her proceedings, and the 
people generally were ready to rise up in open rebellion 
against her authority, at any moment, and on any pre- 
text. This feeling found vent in the Kebellion of that 
year, which is known in history by the name of " The 
Kising of the North." The Earls of Northumberland 
and Westmoreland were ostensibly at the head of it, but 
the real leaders and instigators, were Richard Norton* 
of Norton Conyers, and Thomas Markenfield of Marken- 
field, near Ripon. The first meetings of the chief insur- 




MABKENFIELD HALL. 



gents were held at the seat of the Earl of Northumber- 
land at Topcliffe, at which place the plan of the insur- 
rection was laid, and the arrangements were made for 
the commencement of operations. The Queen, however, 
having become acquainted with their movements, sum- 
moned the two Earls to appear at once at court to answer 
for their conduct. This precipitated the Rising before 
all was fully prepared for it. In the middle of one 
November evening, (being the same day on which he 
received the Queen's summons before alluded to), the 
Earl of Northumberland was aroused from his bed at 
Topcliffe, by one of his servants of the name of Beckwith, 
who told him that his enemies were then about the park, 

* It will be seen hereafter, on referring to the Pedigree of the Nortons, 
that Robert Norton, a grandson of this person, resided at Swinton near 
Masham. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 99 

waiting to take him, and that he had better arise and 
make his escape. This was a ruse which was played 
upon the Earl by his own confederates, who had recourse 
to this expedient in consequence of their suspecting that 
he was wavering. The Earl accordingly rose from his 
bed, and mounting his horse, rode off in great haste to 
Brancepeth- Castle, the seat of the Earl of Westmoreland, 
whom he found surrounded by a number of friends and 
retainers, all ready and eager to take up arms at once, 
for what they considered a holy cause. They thereupon 
determined to begin the insurrection without more 
delay, and they no sooner made such their intentions 
known, than great multitudes of the common people 
flocked to their standard. 

" Now was the North in arms : — they shine 
In warlike trim from Tweed to Tyne, 
At Percy's voice ; and Neville sees 
His followers gath'ring in from Tees, 
From Wear, and all the little rills 
Conceal'd among the forked hills. 
Seven hundred Knights, retainers all 
Of Neville, at their master's call 
Had sate together in Raby Hall ! 
Such strength that Earldom held of yore, 
Nor wanted at this time rich store 
Of well-appointed Chivalry. 

Not loth the sleepy lance to wield, 

And greet the old paternal shield, 
They heard the summons : and futhermore 
Came foot and horsemen of each degree 
Unbound by pledge of fealty; 
Appear'd with free and open hate 
Of novelties in church and state, 
Knight, Burgher, Yeoman, and Esquire, 
And th' holy Priest, in Priest's attire." 

Wordsworth. 

Their first demonstration was made at Durham ; they 
next marched southward to Staindrop, Darlington, and 
Richmond, at each of which places they restored the 
ancient services: and having arrived at Ripon on the 
18th November, they there received a large accession to 



100 MASHAM AND MASIIAMSHIRE. 

their number from this district. They had a muster at 
the market-cross at Eipon, when the two Earls made a 
proclamation, in which they declared that they intended 
to attempt nothing against the person of the Queen, to 
whom they avowed unshaken allegiance, but that their 
sole aim was to re-establish the religion of their ances- 
tors, to remove evil Counsellors from about the Queen's 
person, and to restore the Duke of Norfolk (who was 
then confined as a prisoner in the Tower, to prevent his 
marrying Mary Queen of Scots then confined in Bolton 
Castle), and other faithful peers, to their liberty and the 
Queen's favour. After putting Sir William Ingilby to 
flight, who opposed them, they marched to Knaresbrough, 
and from thence to Wetherby, and at length to Clifford's 
moor, where they held a Council of war. The insur- 
gents having by this time found that their army num- 
bered but 1600 horse and 4000 foot, and that they were 
not likely to receive some support which they had been 
led to expect, determined upon a retreat northward. 
Having laid siege to Sir George Bowes in Barnard Castle, 
that fortress, after eleven days resistance, was yielded to 
them, as was also the sea-port town of Hartlepool. In 
the meantime the Royal army, which far exceeded them 
in numbers, was advancing upon them from York. The 
Insurgents lost heart, and their infantry presently dis- 
banded and fled in all directions, many of them being 
killed or captured in their precipitate flight. The Earl 
and Countess of Westmoreland, Egremont Ratclife, 
Richard Norton, Sir Thomas Markenfield,* and others, 

* Sir Thomas Markenfield's estate at Markenfield Hall, near Ripon, 
became forfeited by the part he thus took in the Rebellion, and was subse- 
quently granted to the Lord Chancellor Egerton, one of whose descendants, 
the celebrated Duke of Bridgewater, sold it to Sir Fletcher Norton, ancestor 
to Lord Grantley, the present owner. 

The Markenfield family appear to have been long settled at Markenfield 
Hall, and their burial-place was in Ripon Minster, where there is a fine 
altar tomb of Sir Thomas Markenfield, a warrior in the time of Edward HI., 
and his wife, the heiress of the Miniots of Carlton Miniot, near Thirsk; also 
another altar tomb on which are placed the effigies of Sir Thomas Marken- 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSH1RE. 



101 



managed to escape into the Spanish Netherlands, where 
they suffered severely from poverty and great hardships, 
and dragged out a miserable existence to the end of 



1 V VlV " VW ii .I .," '.'I' I I mil ill 




TOMB OF SIR THO. MABKENFIELD (1497), GREATGRANDFATHER OF THE REBEL. 

their days. The Earl of Northumberland fared still 
worse, for having been betrayed, and given up to his 
enemies by Earl Moreton, Viceroy of Scotland, he was 
beheaded at York, on the 22nd August, 1572.* The 

field, and Elenor his wife, daughter of Sir John Conyers of Hornby Castle. 

Sir Ninian Markenfield (one of the family) was at the battle of 

Flodden-field, in the year 1513, as appears by the ballad quoted ante p. 89 ; 

" Next went Sir Niniaif Markenville, 
In armour-coat of cunning work, 
The next went Sir John Normanville, 
"With him the citizens of York." 

* " The history of the Percy family, is a scene of war and blood. Six of 
the Earls died violent deaths, as did many of the collateral branches. Henry 
Percy, first Earl, was slain at the battle of Bramham-moor, 1408 ; Henry, 
second Earl, was killed at the battle of St. Albans, 1455; Henry, third Earl, 
was slain at the battle of Towton, 1461 ; Henry, fourth Earl, was murdered 
by the mob at Topcliffe, 1489; Thomas, seventh Earl, was beheaded at York, 
1572; Henry, ninth Earl, shot himself in the Tower, 1585; Thomas Percy, 
Earl of Worcester, brother to the first Earl, was beheaded at Shrewsbury, 



102 



MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



greatest severity was exercised against all such as had 
taken part in this enterprise, Queen Elizabeth having 
sworn a solemn oath, that she would give them such a 
breakfast as they had never had in the north before ; and 
for once in her life she kept her word. The wealthier 
of the rebels were doomed to attainder and confiscation, 

whilst all the severity of mar- 
tial law was let loose on the 
miserable offenders who had 
nothing but their lives to lose. 
Sixty-six persons were hang- 
ed at Durham, chiefly petty 
constables, and others, who 
had acted under the orders of 
the insurgents, but amongst 
them was a Mr. Plomtre, a 
noted priest. Executions equ- 
ally sanguinary, took place at 
Richmond and other places, where the rebellion had 
been most general. Sir George Bowes having, with his 
executioner, traversed the whole country between New- 
castle and Wetherby (a district of sixty miles in length 
by forty in breadth), like a 




THE PERCY BADGE. 



" Royal Mastiff panting- at their heels, 

"With all the savage thirst a tiger feels : " 

dealing out death wherever he went with no sparing 

1403; Henry, Lord Percy, eldest son of the first Earl, was slain at the battle 
of Shrewsbury, 1403 : Sir Ralph Percy, third son of the first Earl, was slain 
by the Saracens in the Holy Land, 1400 ; Sir Thomas Percy, fifth son of the 
second Earl, was killed at the battle of Northampton, 1460 ; Sir Ralph Percy, 
seventh son of the second Earl, lost his life at the battle of Haggelamore, 
1463 ; and Sir Thomas Percy, second son of the fifth Earl, was executed at 
Tyburn for a conspiracy. It is very remarkable that John Neville, created 
Earl of Northumberland by Edward IV., 1464, after the attainder of the 
third Earl, lost his life at the battle of Barnet, 1472, and that John Dudley, 
created Duke of Northumberland by Edward VI., 1551, after the title 
became extinct by the death of Henry, the sixth Earl, without issue, and 
the attainder of Sir Thomas Percy, 29 Hen. VIII., was beheaded, 1553; as if 
some fatality attended the title."— Gill's Yallis Ehoracensis. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIBE. 103 

hand. It was his boast, that there was not a market town 
or village, in that district, in which an execution had 
not taken place of some of its inhabitants. The whole 
country was dotted in every direction with gibbets — not 
less than eight hundred persons in the whole having thus 
suffered by the hands of the executioner. Amongst the 
number were Simon Digby, Esq., of Aiskew; John Ful- 
thorpe, Esq., of Iselbeck; Robert Pennyman, Esq., of 
Stokesley ; and Thomas Bishop, jun., Esq., of Pocklington ; 
who were beheaded at York.* The Editor of " The 
Richmondshire Wills," before alluded to, in speaking of 
this Rebellion, says, that a number of the Richmondshire 
gentry were involved in it, and adds, that " death, ban- 
ishment, and confiscation, were dealt out amongst the 
offenders with no sparing hand;" * * **and further that 
" The Council of North was established at York, and 
conformity with the religion of the State, was exacted 
in the most rigorous manner. Many therefore of the 
Richmondshire gentry who refused to renounce their 
faith were cast into prison, and not a few of them died 
in bonds. Yet notwithstanding all this the Richmond- 
shire Cavaliers in the following century fought well for 
King Charles, and none were so prodigal of their estates, 
and their lives, as the Roman Catholic gentlemen." The 
same author at page 207 of the work already quoted, 
adds, what was undoubtedly the fact, that " The family 
of Danby was more or less concerned in the Rising of 
the North." 

A reference to the Pedigree of the Danby family will 
shew that the Danbys were connected by blood, and by 
marriage, and otherwise, with the chief leaders of the 
Rebellion; and further that Sir Christopher Danby's 

* Mr. Walbran in his Guide to Ripon, in speaking of this subject, says, 
" there were ordered to be executed here, [at Ripon] all the Rebel Constables 
of the West-Riding, except those of Wetherby, Boroughbridge, and Tad- 
caster : all the offending serving-men of the West- Riding : and lastly, 
within sight of their neighbours, and homes, and kindred — the misguided 
townsmen of Ripon." 



104 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

son-in-law, Sir John Neville of Liversedge, (who had 
married his daughter Dorothy) was so implicated in it, 
that he was convicted of high treason, and all his lands 
(which were extensive) became forfeited to the crown. 
It does not seem that Sir Christopher Danby actually 
joined the rebel army in person; and, considering his 
advanced years at the date of the rebellion, and his 
death within two years afterwards, it is not probable 
that he would be able to do so. Besides that, it would 
not seem, that he was even in earlier life disposed for 
military adventures, or adapted for military service, for 
in a Commission of Array for the county of York, made 
in the 36th Hen. VIIL, a.d. 1545, during the war with 
France and Scotland, he was not, like others, required to 
appear in person in the war, but was only required to 
find and send ninety footmen as his contribution to the 
force. These observations however would not apply to 
his sons, and more especially to his eldest son Sir Thomas 
Danby, who had married Lady Mary Neville, a daughter 
of Ralph the fourth Earl of Westmoreland, and aunt to 
Charles Neville the sixth Earl of Westmoreland, one of 
the chief leaders of the Rebellion. 



ARMS OF JERYAUX. 



Shortly after the dissolution of Jervaux Abbey, viz., 
in the 26th Hen. VIIL, a.d. 1534, the King granted the 
site of the abbey, and the abbey lands, to Matthew 
Stewart, Earl of Lennox, a nobleman who had been ban- 
ished from Scotland, his own country, for basely attempt- 
ing to betray Dumbarton Castle. Henry VIIL gave 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 105 

him shelter in England, and as a reward for his virtuous 
achievements, gave him not only several manors in 
Yorkshire, but also the hand of his neice, Lady Margaret 
Douglas, daughter of his sister Margaret, Queen Dowa- 
ger of Scotland, by her second husband the Earl of 
Angus. This Earl of Lennox was father of the celebra- 
ted Lord Darnley, husband of Mary Queen of Scots. 
The Earl of Lennox it would seem very soon after thus 
coming into the possession of the land belonging to Jer- 
vaux Abbey, became a disagreeable and troublesome 
neighbour of Sir Christopher Danby, and laid claim to a 
portion of Sir Christopher's estate, as belonging to him 
as Patentee of the Crown of the Abbey and abbey lands 
of Jervaux. This gave rise to some proceedings being 
taken by him before "the Council of the North," as will 
appear by the following letter upon the subject addressed 
to the Earl of Shrewsbury, then Lord President of the 
North, by Sir Christopher Danby. 



Letter from Christopher Danby to the Earl of Shrewsbury. 

" My humble dewtie remembrede to your honerable Lordshipe plesith 
you to be advertised that I have recevide your lovynge and gentil] Letter by 
the tenure whereof I do perceave your Lordshipe's pleasure is that ye wolde 
have my Lorde of Lennoxe and me to byde order of two of the Kynge's 
Ma'ties Counsell establishede in the North parties all suche contraversies 
dependynge betwixt us, with which order my Lorde I shall be contentede 
at your Lordeshipe's desire: and to selecte for me Mr. Robert Chaloner, 
and for my two friends I appoint my son-in-law Sir John Neville, and 
Christopher Nevill my brother-in-lawe, because they have beyne in use with 
the seide controversies, and where your Lordeshipe's request is, that ye wold 
have me to doo no displeasure to the seide Erie wherewithall any uncon- 
venyence might arise, my Lord, that in noo wise 1 intende to do, savin ge 
only, to kepe my possession of my inheritannce whereof I am possesside 
alredy and alwaies hath beyn. My Lord, I trust that your Lordshipe will 
let me knowe my Lorde of Lennoxe's pleasure herein, what place and day 
he doth appoynte to mete at, so that it may be afore the Feaste of Saynt 
John Baptiste next for to come, and all suytts of both the parties to seace in 
the mean season ; and thus Almighty John have your honorable Lordshipe 
in his blisside kepynge. 

Thorp Perrow, the By yours to commande, 

xx of Marche [1551.] X'per Danby." 



106 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIEE. 

Indorsed. 
" To The Right Honorable and my s'ngler good Lorde The Earl of 
Shrewsbury, Lord President of the King's Ma'ties most honorable Counsells 
establishede in the Nor the parties this be delyverede."* 

I am not aware how this dispute as to the boundaries 
between Masham and East Witton Parishes ended. I 
merely give the above letter as an historical fact, and to 
illustrate the manners of the times, and as a specimen of 
letter writing at the date mentioned in it. He was High 
Sheriff of Yorkshire in the year 1545. 

It appears to have been the intention of King Henry 
YIIL, before his death, to have raised Sir Christopher 
Danby to the Peerage, by creating him a Baron, with a 
pension to enable him the better to support the dignity ; 
the King's death however prevented him carrying out 
such his intention. The Peerage and pension were 
afterwards offered to Sir Christopher but declined. Sir 
Christopher was doubless indebted for this intended 
honour to the influence and interest of Catharine Parr, 
the King's sixth and last wife, who, previous to her 
marriage with the King, had been the wife and after- 
wards the widow of John Neville, third Lord Latimer, 
who was brother to his (Sir Christopher Danby's) wife, 
and as such, at one time, resided at Snape Castle, whilst 
he (Sir Christopher) was residing at Thorp Perrow. 

During the time of Sir Christopher Danby, Masham 
was honoured with a visit from John L eland the famous 
antiquary, who has given an account of his visit in his 
Itinerary. He there speaks of " Masseham" as " a praty 
quik market town and a faire Chirch." " At the ende 
of Masseham Townlet I passid over a fair Ryver called 
Bourne, it goeth into Ure thereby a little byneth the 
bridge. The Lordship of one of the Aldeborows lyith 
agayn the mouth of Bourn, wher it goeth into Ure. 
Thens to Gruelle Thorp 3 or 4 miles bi hilly and lingy 

* The Earl of Lennox was assassinated in the year 1571, by the Hamil- 
tons, in revenge for his having, as Regent of Scotland, hanged, without a 
trial, the Archbishop of St. Andrews. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 107 

and some morisch ground. And thens by much like 
ground a 3 miles to Ripon. After that I passid from 
Thorp ; half a mile I left hard on the lefte hand Kirkeby 
Malzart, wher Moulbray had ons a great Castelle." 
¥ Snape Lordshipe where now the Lord Latimer dwil- 
lethe was Fitz Randolf." " About a mile benethe Ger- 
valx Abbay is a great old Bridge of Stone on Ure, caullyd 
Kiloram Bridge. Then almost 4 miles to Maseham 
Bridge of Tymbar a little bynethe Masseham, and VI 
miles lower North Bridge at the hether end of Ripon ; 
it is of YII arches of Stone." "On the other syde of 
Yore Ryver lyethe Aldeburg Tillage. " "And a mile 
farther by est lyethe Thorpe one of Master Danby's 
Houses, howbeit he hath one that he more occupiethe at 
Farneley a 2 miles from Leeds." " Wiville dwellithe a 
little above Masseham on the further Rype of Ure." 

Sir Christopher Danby closed his eventful life in the 
year 1571, full of years, and in the midst of his numer- 
ous family of children. He was succeeded in his estates 
by his eldest son Sir Thomas Danby, who appears to 
have won his spurs and to have been knighted in his 
father's life-time, and to have taken upon himself the prin- 
cipal management of his father's Mashamshire estates. 

This Sir Thomas Danby was in the 26th Hen. VIII. , 
1534, at the early age of four years, married to Lady 
Mary Neville, second daughter of Ralph, fourth Earl of 
Westmoreland, by Catharine Stafford, daughter of Edward 
Duke of Buckingham, (a most illustrious nobleman, 
who was unjustly beheaded on Tower-hill, on the 17th 
May, 1521), with whom he was to receive a fortune 
of 1050 marks, or 700/. of our money. This sum, 
although it looks small in our eyes, was in truth con- 
sidered a very handsome fortune in those days. The 
marriage contract is still in existence. This lady was 
aunt to Charles Neville, sixth Earl of Westmoreland, who 
was one of the leaders of the Rebellion of 1569, before 
mentioned. He appears, even during his father's life- 
time, to have had a serious affray with his cousin and 



108 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

neighbour, John Neville, the last Lord Latimer (to whom 
the sumptuous mural monument in Well Church is 
erected) which led to proceedings being taken, not only 
before the Council of the North, but at the court of 
Quarter Sessions, as the following letter upon the sub- 
ject from John Lord Latymer to the Earl of Shrewsbury, 
the then President of the Council of the North, will shew. 

Copy. 
" Right honorable my very goode lorde, after my moost humble maner, 
these shal be to sign y fie your Lordshippe, that whereas ther is a certain 
matter in traverse betwixt me and my servants, and Sir Thomas Danby, 
Knight, and his servants, now depending in the lawe before your Lordship, 
and the Counsaill, for one assault and fraie late made by the said Sir Thomas 
Danby and his servants, upon me and my servants, in myne owne grounde 
at Snape, which matters were called and pleaded before your Lordship and 
the Counsail at yo'r late syttinge at Yorke, and in the same no ende were 
made at that time. Trusting that the said matter shuld have been tried before 
yo'r Lordshippe and Counsaill at the time convenyent without any ffurther 
busyness off either partie, and sythens that tyme the said S'r Thomas w'th 
others hath at the Sessions endyted me and my servants for the seid fraie : 
which thing I never doubted, consideryng that the matter was dependyng 
byfore yo'r lordshippe, and in the lawe, ffor if I had thought that they would 
have gone about and sought for such purposes, I wold have loked therupon, 
most humbly requyring your good lordshippe to consider the premysses, and 
to shewe me yo'r benyvolent favor therin and in other my matters now 
depending in the lawe before yo'r Lordshippe and the Counsaill, thus besech- 
ing I'hu to have your Lordshippe in his holy keepinge. 
From Snape this last of Your Lordshippe's at Co'mandment, 

November [1545] John Latymer." 

Indorsed 
" To The Right Honorable and very good Lord The Erie of Shrewisburye, 
President of the Kinge's Ma'ties Counsaill established in thes north partes." 

It also appears that before his father died, viz. in 8 
Eliz., a.d. 1565, he had joined him in the purchase of 
the manors of Healey and Ellington, from Henry Lord 
Scrope of Bolton, together with all claim to all Badges of 
Seignory whatsoever, and also of several parcels of land 
in Healey, Ellington, Masham, Swinton, Eearby, Ilton, 
and Sourmire. 

He was forty years of age when his father died, and 
when he came into the full possession of his estates, viz. in 



HISTOEY OE MASHAMSHIRE. 109 

1571. In the year 1576 he was High Sheriff of York- 
shire. In the same year he purchased of William Single- 
ton of Fountains, gentleman, the capital messuage of 
Pot, with all the lands thereto appertaining, and all his 
claims of right to the Royalties, wastes, &c, thereof. 
This Mr. Singleton having purchased it, along with 
other lands, of Sir William, the son of Sir .Richard 
Gresham, to whom King Henry VIII. had granted it on 
the dissolution of Fountains Abbey. 

He died at his manor house at South Cave, on the 
14th Sept., 32 Eliz., a.d. 1590, leaving Lady Mary his 
widow, and a large family of children surviving him. 
His eldest son Thomas Danby, Esq., had however died 
in his lifetime, leaving by Elizabeth,* the daughter of 
Thomas Wentworth, Esq., of Wentworth Woodhouse, a 
posthumous son, Christopher Danby, Esq., who suc- 
ceeded to the estates. 

This Christopher Danby was very young when his 
grandfather died, namely about nine years old, and was 
accordingly a ward under the Court of Wards and Liv- 
eries, until he came of age. His mother however, who 
seems to have been of strong mind, and business-like 
habits, in the 32 Eliz., a.d. 1589, bought from the Crown 
the custody, wardship, and marriage of her son, during 
his minority, and having also procured an assignment of 
the lease of his lands, undertook herself the bringing up 
of her infant heir. She made several purchases of par- 
cels of land, and especially of two thirds of the manor of 
Swinton, and added them to the estate, and otherwise 
improved it, during the time she had the control over it. 
She long survived her husband, and spent the greatest 
portion of her widowhood at Pot Grange near Masham, 
which she had for her residence. She was in religion a 
staunch Roman Catholic, and with her son Christopher 
(one of the Lords of Mashamshire) were accordingly 
pronounced and punished as Popish Recusants. They, 

* She was aunt to the celebrated Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, 
of whom I shall have occasion to speak hereafter. 



110 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

however, in the 8th James I., a.d. 1610, obtained a Par- 
don under the Great Seal for their offence ! but not until 
after they had first paid a round sum of money for it, 
when they were restored to their just rights, as British 
subjects. 

Hard however as they no doubt thought it thus to. 
suffer for conscience-sake, they were not without com- 
panions in their sufferings, as the proceedings in our 
own Ecclesiastical Court at Masham, as set out in the 
appendix D hereto, will abundantly shew. A reference 
to those proceedings will shew that great numbers of 
the people here were prosecuted for the following, 
amongst other offences, viz., for being negligent comers to 
Church — for indecent behaviour hi Church — for keeping 
their hats on in communion time — for not coming to 
Church monthly — for absenting themselves from Church 
on Sundays and holidays — for bidding the Churchwardens 
to do their worst on their wishing them to go to Church — 
for not receiving the Holy Communion — for not receiving 
the Holy Communion at Easter — for not receiving the 
Holy Communion thrice a year — for refusing to be in- 
structed in the Church Catechism — for not bringing their 
children to Church to be baptized — for having their chil- 
dren baptized elsewhere than at their own Parish Church 
— women for not giving thanks for their safe deliverance 
— for marrying clandestinely, without license or banns — 
for not being married at their own Parish Church — for 
being married by a Popish Priest — for being married at a 
Priest's house — for husband and wife living separate and 
apart — Schoolmasters teaching without license — for dese- 
crating the Sabbath— for drunkenness— for vain swearing— 
for brawling and scolding — for being common scolds — for 
being malicious slanderers — for fornication — for adultery 
— for incest — for fornication before marriage — for taking 
possession of the Chapel at Ellington* — for selling the 

* Before the dissolution of the monasteries, there was a Chapel of Ease 
at Ellington, the duties of which were supplied by the monks of Jervaux. 
It was situate upon the farm lately occupied by Mr. Charles Lee, but now 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSRTRE. Ill 

bell and other ornaments belonging to the Church at 
Ellington — for not providing bread and wine for the 
Perambulation — the Clergyman for not reading " The 
Book of Sports" during the time of divine service, as 
required by the King's Proclamation — the Clergyman for 
not reading Prayers, &c, on Wednesdays and Fridays — ■ 
the Churchwardens for not putting in force the statute 
imposing a fine of \2d. for every time that a person is 
absent from Church — for telling of fortunes, and using 
unlawful enchantments — for carrying a dead man's skull 
out of the churchyard and laying it under the head of a 
person to charm him to sleep — for the nonpayment ot 
Church-rates — for harbouring papistical Recusants* — for 
having mass said at their houses — for being suspected of 
being Popish Recusants — for standing excommunicate 
and being Popish Recusants— for burying excommunica- 
ted Recusants — for burying a mother she being a Popish 
Recusant — for having suspicious crossings of towels at 
burials — for saying a Pater noster for the soul of an old 

by Mr. Jefferson. Part of the building still remains, and is used as a barn. 

" And here the Cemetery, hallow'd ground, 
Where sleep the Fathers of this ancient place, 
This consecrated mould ! a garden now 
Where culinary plants profusely grow; 
And thus the living riot on the dead." 

There was also then a similar Chapel of Ease at Leighton, the duties of 
which were supplied by the monks of Fountains from their Grange, at Pott 
Grange. It is now converted into a Farmhouse, and is occupied by Mr. 
John Carter. There was also formerly another Chapel at Fearby, and a house 
is still pointed out on the village green, bearing the name of the " Chapel 
house," as the site of it, and where is still to be seen the ancient Stone 
Altar. There were two other private Chapels at Low Burton and High 
Burton, near Masham, and in all probability another at Aldborough. 

* Mrs. Jane Wyvell of Little Burton Hall, or as it is now called Low 
Burton, was the person who was convicted of this offence. Low Burton Hall 
is a curious old building, having an octagonal chimney ten feet high, con- 
structed of polished stone. The stair-case is of black oak, and three of the 
rooms are wainscotted with the same material. There were formerly a 
Chapel and a burial ground attached to the house. About fifty years ago 
some ancient vases of earthenware were found here but were not preserved. 



112 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

wife at her burial — for kneeling at the Cross* at a funeral ; 
and lastly — for making water against the churchyard 
wall ! For these several offences great numbers of the 
people were not only cited to appear and answer these 
outrageous charges against them, but were subjected to 
the censures of the church — including payment of costs, 
the doing of penance, excommunication (whereby they 
were cut off from all intercourse with the christian com- 
munity, and deprived of their civil rights), and to being 
denounced as Popish Recusants, by which they were 
placed under many very serious disabilities (including 
the denial of christian burial), and were subjected to 
very heavy penalties. 

Besides having thus made our Ecclesiastical Court 
an intolerable engine of oppression for the purpose of 
coercing the people into a renunciation of a faith to 
which they were zealously attached, and into the adop- 
tion of one which they as cordially hated, the strong arm 
of the Courts temporal and civil power, was evoked to 
their aid, as is evident by the churchwardens of Masham 
being compelled to put in force the Statute imposing a 
fine of twelve pence for every time that a person ab- 
sented himself from church, as well as from the docu- 
ment set out below, which I have extracted from the 
"State Paper Office, Dom. Jas. L, vol. 15." 

" Better, and juster, far would it have been, 
To give Religion her unbridled scope, 
Nor judge by Statute a believer's hope." 

* Formerly stone Crosses stood in the streets (some of which, or rather 
the bases of them, were existing within the memory of the present genera- 
tion) at which sermons used to be preached, royal proclamations made, laws 
published, and malefactors sometimes hanged. When a corpse was being 
conveyed to the churchyard to be buried, it was set down there, that all the 
people attending the funeral might pray for the soul of the deceased. The 
following question is amongst the " articles to be enquired of within the 
Archdeaconry of Yorke, by the churchwardens and sworne men." 163 — , 
4to. " Whether at the death of any there be praying for the dead at Crosses, 
or places where Crosses have been, in the way to the Church " — which shews 
that the Reformed Church was then endeavouring to put the practice 
down. There are still the remains of one of these crosses at Fearby-Cross. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 113 

It will be seen by the last mentioned document that 
the following five gentlemen residing in this neighbour- 
hood, namely, Christopher Conyers of Hutton, Joshua 
Pullyn of Nidderdale, Francis Scroope of Danby, An- 
thony Catherick of Stanwick, and Francis Sayer of 
Marrick Park — having been charged with Recusancy 
whereby their estates Would, on their conviction for the 
offence, become forfeited to the crown — one Dr. Martin, 
the Physician to the Queen (adopting the course then 
usually pursued by the court favourites, and taking time 
by the forelock by anticipating their conviction), peti- 
tioned the King that the goods of these five unfortunate 
gentlemen should be given to him, and that such his 
petition was granted. The following is a copy of the 
precious document alluded to, which is in the form of a 
Letter from the Archbishop of York, Dr. Matthew 
Hutton, to Lord Dorset, Lord Treasurer for Recusants, 
and is endorsed " Minute to the Lord Treasurer for 
Recusants — the Council to (Lord Dorset)." 

"My Lord, 

Whereas Mr. Doctor Martin, her Ma'ty's Phisicion hath 
made humble suite unto the King to bestowe upon him such commodities as 
shall growe unto his Ma'ty by vertue of the recusance of these persons un- 
derwritten, after an orderlie conviction by lawe, and an extent of their lands. 
Although his Ma'ty be well pleased to shew his gracious favour therein 
when it shall appeare to what proportion their extents will amount. Never- 
theless because there may be many others of his servants who will expect 
his favour, and that it cannot yet appeare what may be the value of these, 
His Ma'ty is pleased that you shall take notice that these are sued for by 
the said Dr. Martin ; and that he shall recyve such benefitt as shall arise 
thereby, yf the same prove to be no greater upon their conviction then shall 
stand w'th his gracious liking : w'ch yf it be his Ma'ty's will then dispose 
of as much, or as little, as he shall thinke fitt. And so desiring yo'r Lo'pp 
to make an entrie heerof accordinglie, I committ you to God. 
From the Court at Wyndsore, 10 Septemb. 1605. 

Your Lo'pp assured friend to command, 
JEbor. Ebok. 

Christofer Conyers of Huton 
Joshua Pullyn of Nidderdale 
Francis Scroope of Danby 
Anthony Catherick of Stanwick 
Francis Sayer of Marrick Park." 



■W" 



114 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIKE. 

But, unfortunately, the persecution of the Roman 
Catholics, by their Protestant brethren, did not by any 
means stop here, but extended itself to the shedding of 
innocent blood, and that too, of men who had been born 
and brought up in the midst of us, and who with pious 
zeal were constantly going about this very district in 
the discharge of the duties of their sacred calling, in the 
administering. of religious consolation and advice to those 
who, in spite of the severe persecutions and trials they 
had to undergo on account of their faith, still unflinch- 
ingly adhered to it. 

Amongst the sufferers above alluded to were the fol- 
lowing, viz, : — 

Francis Ingilby, a son of Sir William Ingilby, Knight, 
who was born at Ripley in Yorkshire, and was hanged 
at York on the 3rd of June, 1586, for no other crime 
than being a Roman Catholic Priest. 

Alexander Crow, who was born in the neighbourhood 
of Ripon, was hanged at York on the 30th Nov., 1586-7, 
for being a Roman Catholic Priest. 

Richard Sympson, who was born at Well, was 
hanged at Derby, at the Summer Assizes there of 1588, 
for being a Roman Catholic Priest. It appears that this 
Sympson had formerly been a Protestant, but having 
become a convert to the Roman Catholic faith, he entered 
the Roman Catholic College at Douay, in France, where 
he was admitted on the 19th of May, 1577. Having 
received the necessary instruction there, he was ordained 
Priest, and sent back into England as a Missionary. 
Like all new converts, he was more zealous than discreet 
in his preaching, and spoke with much boldness in de- 
fence of the doctrines of the Romish Church. The con- 
sequence was that he soon got himself into trouble — was 
thrown into prison — and from prison into banishment. 
Nothing daunted, however, he soon returned to his 
ministry, when he again laboured with unabated faith- 
fulness and zeal, for the winning of souls ; but he was a 
second time cut short in his work, by his being again 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 115 

apprehended whilst going from Lancashire into Derby- 
shire, and committed to the County Gaol, at Derby, 
where he was tried and condemned at the Lent Assizes 
of 1588 "for being a Priest made by the authority and 
rites of the Roman Church." After this his conviction 
it seems that the fear of death at last unmanned him so 
that he betrayed some symptoms of wavering, and took 
some steps towards conforming to the Protestant religion 
and a renunciation of his own faith; and was accord- 
ingly reprieved until the Summer Assizes following. 
In the meantime however, he relented of the steps he 
had taken towards a recantation, and having re-asserted 
his continued adherence to the doctrines for which he 
had been condemned, he was ordered for execution. An 
eye-witness of the execution says, that he suffered with 
great constancy, though not with such remarkable signs 
of joy and alacrity, as the two priests his companions, 
who were executed along with him. After his execu- 
tion, his head and quarters, were set upon poles, in and 
about Derby, but were afterwards stolen away by his 
friends and decently buried. 

The following lines are said to have been written by 
an eye-witness of the execution of Sympson and his two 
companions : 

"When Garlick did the ladder kiss, 
And Sympson after hie, 
Methought that there St. Andrew was 
Desirous for to die. 

When Ludlam looked smilingly, 

And joyf ul did remain, 
It seem'd St. Stephen was standing by 

For to be ston'd again. 

And what if Sympson seem'd to yield, 

For doubt and dread to die : 
He rose again, and won the field, 

And died most constantly. 

His watching, fasting, shirt of hair, 

His speech, his death, and all, 
Do record give, do witness bear, 

He wail'd his former fall." 



116 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Nicholas Horner (a layman) who was born at Grant- 
ley, near Eipon, was hanged at Smithfield, on the 4th 
of March, 1589, "for assisting Christopher Bayles, made 
Priest beyond sea, who was convicted of treason for re- 
maining in the realm contrary to the statute." 

Peter Snow, who was born at or near Ripon, was 
hanged at York, on the 15th of June, 1598, for being a 
Priest. 

Thomas Pallaser (a Priest) who was born at Ellerton- 
on- Swale, was apprehended at the house of Mr. John 
Norton, of Norton Conyers, along with Mr. Norton and 
his wife, and a Mr. John Talbot, for being found in his 
company, and were all committed for trial at the Dur- 
ham Assizes, where they were all found guilty and con- 
demned to die for their religion. All of them (except 
Mrs. Norton, who was reprieved on account of her being 
supposed to be then enciente) were executed at Durham 
on the 9th August, 1600. 

John Pibus, who was born at Thirsk, was also hanged 
on account of his religion, on the 18th of Feb., 1601. 

I will but add one more to this black catalogue of 
judicial murders on account of religion, by the way of 
further shewing the extent of the persecutions which 
the Eoman Catholics suffered at the hands of the Pro- 
testants on account of their faith, in this immediate 
neighbourhood. 

Edmund Catterick, who was of the family of the Cat- 
tericks of Carlton, near Richmond, was executed at York 
on the 13th of April, 1642, for being a Roman Catholic 
priest. The circumstances attending his apprehension 
— and that too on the very border of our own parish, and 
most probable immediately after one of his stolen visits 
to it in the pursuit of his holy vocation, and the adminis- 
tering to the spiritual wants of the people within it — 
his committal to prison, his trial, conviction, and subse- 
quent execution, are so touching, that I am induced to 
devote a few lines to a description of them. 

It appears that Mr. Catterick received his education 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 117 

at the English College of Douay, and having been there 
made a Priest, he was sent upon the English Mission 
about the year 1635. He is said to have been a man of 
extraordinary meekness, and to have been very zealous 
and laborious in his mission. After seven years of 
labouring in the vineyard of his Lord and master, he 
was apprehended on the road not far from Watlass, and 
carried before Mr. Dodsworth of that place, who was a 
Justice of the Peace, charged with being a Roman 
Catholic Priest. It would seem, that when he was 
before Mr. Justice Dodsworth, there was some difficulty 
in giving the necessary legal proof of Mr. Catterick' s 
being really a Roman Catholic priest, as charged against 
him. This difficulty, however, Mr. Dodsworth soon 
found means to get over, for it so happened that he 
having married a near kinswoman of Mr. Catterick, the 
latter gentleman had, when on a visit to him on his own 
invitation, candidly, but confidentially, informed him 
that he was a Roman Catholic Priest : Mr. Dodsworth 
therefore took upon himself, without more ado, to com- 
mit Mr. Catterick to York Castle for trial on the charge, 
and afterwards appeared and gave evidence against him 
on his trial, to the effect that the prisoner had in his 
hearing owned himself to be a Priest. Upon this evi- 
dence he was convicted, and condemned to die; and 
was accordingly executed on the 13th April, 1642. His 
demeanour at the place of execution is said have been 
very religious and devout, and that, whilst Mr. Lock- 
wood (who was executed along with him) was upon 
the ladder, he by his looks and reverend postures, 
plainly shewed that his supplications to God were full of 
fervour and affection. When Mr. Lockwood had been 
turned off, and he was ordered up the ladder, he cheer- 
fully obeyed, and appeared calm and tranquil. When 
he was upon the ladder he again betook himself to 
prayer, earnestly desiring all Catholics there present to 
pray with him, and for him. He spoke little, saying, 
there was no need of it, for that his trial being but lately 



118 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

passed, whereat many of the company were present, they 
could all bear him witness that he was tried and con- 
demned for his priesthood, and that for this only, and 
for no other reason was he brought thither to suffer 
death. He prayed for the King, his royal Consort, and 
their issue, and that God in his mercy would shower 
down his blessings upon them, and send a right under- 
standing between his Majesty and his Parliament. He 
then prayed for his persecutors, especially the person 
who was chiefly instrumental to his death, that God 
would bring him to a sense of his crime, and a speedy 
repentance, adding, that for his own part he freely for- 
gave him, as heartily as he expected, and hoped for 
mercy and pardon of his own manifold sins at the hand 
of God. And now recollecting himself a^ain for a few 
moments, with eyes and hands lifted up to heaven, he 
said, u Lord, I obey; be near me Lord, my soul hath 
trusted in thee, let me not be confounded for ever." 
Then, pulling a cap over his eyes, he delivered himself 
to the executioner, who soon after turned him off the 
ladder, and he calmly expired. His head was placed 
upon Micklegate Bar in York, and his bowels were 
buried on Toft-green. 

Having now brought to an end this sickening account 
of the persecutions which the Roman Catholics in this 
district received at the hands of the Protestants, it is a 
great relief to me to turn aside from these sad scenes of 
bloodshed, and to return to the theme of my general 
history of Mashamshire.* 

* Should the reader however desire to pursue this subject further, I beg 
to refer him to Dr. Bridge water's " Concertatio Ecclesise Catholica?," (which 
is writteu in latiu) and to Bishop Chaloner's Missionary Tracts. Dr. Bridge- 
water alone names about 1200 who thus suffered before the year 1588, and 
Bishop Chaloner adds very considerably to the number ; and I may add, 
that so far as I have been able to test the truth of their statements, 1 have 
found them correct, although, as is to be expected, the accounts they give 
are somewhat highly coloured. It may be proper for me here to acknow- 
ledge that I am indebted to this source for much of the information given 
above. I am alone responsible for the language in which it is conveyed, hav- 



HISTOKY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 119 

I left Christopher Danby, the then Lord of Masham- 
shire, in his nonage, under the fostering care of his 
mother and guardian at Pott-grange. 

Christopher Danby, having in the year 1602 arrived 
at the age of twenty-one, was then freed from the Court 
of Wards and Liveries, and thus came into the posses- 
sion of his Estates. He soon afterwards married Frances 
the youngest daughter of Edward Parker, Lord Morley 
and Monteagle. This Lady was sister to William Lord 
Morley and Monteagle, to whom the remarkable letter 
was addressed by one of Guy Fawkes's co-conspirators 
in the gunpowder-plot in the reign of James I., by means 
of which letter the Plot was happily discovered, and Guy 
Fawkes and his co- conspirators were arrested before they 
could put their plans into execution, and were afterwards 
punished. In the year 1604 it would seem that he was 
travelling abroad, for I find in the State Paper Office 
that a License was granted to him to travel, which is 
dated the 11th of April, 1604. Christopher Danby and 
his wife were both Roman Catholics. His wife, it will 
be seen on referring to the Appendix D hereto, contain- 
ing extracts from the Act-book of the Ecclesiastical 
Court at Masham, was for her adherence to her faith, 
prosecuted and punished as a Popish Recusant. 

Both parties seem to have forgotten to exercise that 
mutual forbearance so beautifully described in the fol- 
lowing well-known lines of Cowper : 

" The kindest and the happiest pair, 
Will find occasion to forbear : 
And something, every day they live, 
To pity, and perhaps forgive." 

The marriage was not by any means a happy one, and 
resulted in domestic feuds and a considerable amount of 
litigation, and finally in the husband and wife living 
separate and apart. Christopher Danby does not by 

ing taken upon myself to re-write these accounts, in consequence of the 
quaint and unreadable language in which the originals are written. 



120 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

any means seem to have lived altogether a blameless 
life, and to have kept the best of society. His name 
will be found recorded in the proceedings before alluded 
to in the Ecclesiastical Court at Masham in connection 
with a little amorous affair with one Elizabeth Scott. 
Amongst other indiscretions, he appears to have allowed 
himself to be grossly robbed by an unfaithful steward, 
and to have run into considerable debt, so as to compel 
him to sell off a considerable portion of his paternal 
estates. He was also a very litigious person, and was con- 
sequently involved in a multiplicity of law suits, amongst 
which may be mentioned an action which he brought 
against Solomon Wyvell of High Burton, for hunting 
upon Brownriggs, in which he obtained a verdict at York 
Assizes, and thereby established that Brownriggs was 
situate within in the boundaries of Mashamshire, and 
was not within the boundaries of East Witton Parish, or 
part of the lands belonging to the then Lord Bruce as 
was then contended.* 

* The following Will of James Dariby, of Ellington, [a member of the 
family), which was proved in the Peculiar Court of Masham, together with 
the Inventory lodged in that Court by the Executors thereunder, is not only 
very curious, but also throws some light upon the embarrassed state of the 
affairs of the Danby family at this time. The will commences as follows : — 

" In the name of God Amen, the thirtieth day of August, Anno D'ni 
1617, 1 James Danbie the elder, of Ellington in the Parish of Masham, in 
the Countie of Yorke, Gent., (being aged and growinge infirme in body 
throughe sicknes and unwonted maladies increasing upon me, and thereby 
the rather warned to prepare my selfe toward myne end whereto by age 
and infirmities I finde myselfe hasteninge) have thought it very meete and 
convenient nowe in the time of my good and p'fect memory (for w'ch I 
highly praise God) to disburden myselfe and my thoughts of the cares of 
this world, in disposinge of my wordly estate and goods transitorie by my 
last Will and Testam't, w'ch I do nowe by these p'sents ordain and make 
in manner and forme followinge : that is to say First, and chiefely, I com'end 
my soule in the hands of Almightie God my Creator, assuredly trustinge by 
and through the meritts, death, and passion of his dearly beloved sonne 
Jesus Christ mine onely redeemer and Saviour to p'ticipate w'th the faithfull 
in that eternall ioy and felicitie w'ch God hath p'pared for his electe, and' 
my body I commend to the earth from whence it came to be buried in the 
Church of Massam aforesaid as neare the place of myne Ancestors theire 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSH1RE. 121 

Christopher Danby died on the 18th of July, 1624, 
and was succeeded in his estates by his eldest son Sir 
Thomas Danby, Knight, who was then a minor of four- 
teen years of age. 

buriall as conveniently may be." He then proceeds to dispose of his wordly 
goods to " the two children of William Challoner of Ellington aforesaid, 
Yeoman, and Katherine, his late wife deceased ; " " William Malleverer, of 
Arnecliffe, Esq., and Francis Pinckney of Nether- Silton, Gent ; " " Thomas 
Ascoughe of Low Newstead" his "sonnes James Danby and John Danby," 
to whom he leaves his Lands at Scruton — and he appoints the said William 
Malleverer, Esq., Francis Pinckney, Thomas Ascoughe, and his said son 
James Danby executors of his said Will. 

The following is an exact Copy of the Inventory before alluded to: 
" Debts w'ch the Testator affirmed to be owen unto him by Eliz. Danby 
of Pott, widdow, and X'pofer Danby of Farneley, Esq., her sonne, as folio w- 
eth : Item, Eliz. Danby for the use and interest of one hundreth pounds for 
two years xx/s. Beside the losse and damage sustained for want of the said 
xx Is. for twelve years or theireaboute at least amountinge to xxiiij/s. It'm 
lefte in the said Eliz. hands to have beene equally paide to his children 
James and Eliz. p'cell of the said Cls. towards theire porc'ons the sume of 
xlls., w'ch being never payde accordingly the losse and damage for want of 
the same xlls. for twelve years or thereabouts amounteth to xlviij/s. It'm, 
the said Chr'ofer Danby, Esq. for an Annuitie of iij/s. vjs. viije?., given unto 
the Testator by Sir X'ppofer Danby, Knight, his Father dureing the Testa- 
tor's life, w'ch was behinde and unpaide to the Testator in the minorite of the 
said X'pofer for foureteene yeares at least, amountinge to the sume of xlyj/s. 
xiijs. iiije?. beside the damage for want of the said xlvjVs. xiijs. iiijj., since 
the said X'p'ofer came to full age being xij yeares at the least amounting to 
liiij7s. It'm lent to the said X'pofer towards the reedeming of his wardship 
{as other Tenants) three years rent never yet repay ed nor allowed, viij/s. It'm 
for use of iij/s. xvs. due yearely for the bailiwick of Massam given by the 
said Sir X'pofer Danby to the Testator during the lives of Sir X'pofer Danby, 
and Sir Thomas Danby, and when the said Chr'ofer Danby, Esq., was ward 
and alsoe since he came to his full age till within eight yeares or thereabouts 
last past amountinge to the sume of xxxfe. Beside the want of the yearly 
profitt of the Chamber beside the Tollbooth and tJie Shojjpes under the Toll- 
booth, all w'ch did belonge to the bailwicke being worth by yeare xls., w'ch 
the Testator hath also wanted for eight yeares at least, amounting to xvj/s." 

Katherine Challoner, mentioned in the above will, appears to have been 
a daughter of the Testator James Danby. He also appears by his Will to 
have had another son called Christopher, who was then dead. The Inven- 
tory discloses, amongst other symptoms of embarrassment, that the Tenantry 
of the estate had been called upon to advance to their young Landlord, (the 
scape-grace Christopher Danby), by way of loan, the amount of three years 



122 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

This Sir Thomas Danby, being in his minority at the 
time of his father's death, became a ward under the 
Court of Wards and Liveries,* and his possessions were 
accordingly taken possession of and held by that Court 
during his minority. Mr. Christopher Wandesford of 
Kirklington (who afterwards became Sir Christopher 
Wandesford, Knight, Master of the Rolls, and Lord 
Deputy of Ireland) purchased from the Court of Wards 
and Liveries for the sum of 800/. the right to the cus- 
tody, wardship, and marriage of Sir Thomas Danby, the 
minor, together with an allowance of 20/. a-year to be 
paid out of Court for his maintainence and education, 
until he should attain the age of twenty-one years, and 
also a Lease of all the minor's* estates (which included 
other estates besides Mashamshire) for a Fine of 40s., 
during the minority, at the annual rent of 150/. Sir 
Christopher Wandesford, having thus obtained the pos- 
session of the minor's person, and the right of marrying 
him to whomsoever he thought fit, as also a Lease of all 
his estates, at the moderate rent of 150/. a-year, set 
about securing, what I may term the reversion in the 
minor and his estates ; and accordingly, whilst he was 
even yet in his minority, married him to his own daugh- 
ter Catharine Wandesford. This happy event occurred 
in the 6th Charles I., 1630. This marriage, whatever 
may be said or thought as to the manner of its being 
brought about, seems to have been a happy one, or at 
all events, a "very fruitful one, as she bore him a large 
family of children ; and, according to a memorandum in 

rent, in order to assisth im in purchasing his wardship, and thereby to get 
the management of the estate back into the hands of the family. 

This James Danby (the maker of the will above mentioned) was the 
uncle of Christopher Danby the " unjust steward" to the Danby estates, the 
latter being a son of Marmaduke Danby, Esq. of Masham, who was the fifth 
son of Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, who married Elizabeth the daughter 
of Richard Neville, Lord Latimer. 

* For an illustration of the monstrous tyranny which was exercised by 
the Court of Wards and Liveries over minors, before its abolition, see Copy- 
Will of John Laton, and notes thereto in the Appendix F, No. 3. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 123 

handwriting of Abstrupus Danby, she in the end died 
at Thorp-Perrow on the 22nd of Sept., 1645, in the 
thirtieth year of her age, in giving birth to her fifteenth 
child, and was buried on the same day at Masham. # 
In the 8th Charles L, a.d. 1632, Sir Thomas Danby 

* The following account of the purchase of the wardship and marriage of 
young Thomas Danby, by Mr. Christopher Wandesford, is given in a 
very rare book, now in the possession of the Rev. John Prior, M.A., Rector 
of Kirklington, who married Sarah, daughter of the Hon. Charles Harward 
Butler Clarke Southwell- Wandesford, the grandson of the last Earl of 
Wandesford, Viscount Castlecomer, and Baron Mowbray and Musters, 
entitled "A Book of Instructions, written by the Right Hon. Sir 
Charles Wandesford, Knight, Lord Deputy of Ireland, First Master of 
the Rolls, then one of the Lords Justices, and Baron Mowbray and Masters, 
to his son and heir George "Wandesford, Esq., in order to the regulating 
the conduct of his whole life." 

At the request of Sir Thos. Wentworth [afterwards Earl of Strafford] 
and with the approbation of the other relatives of Thomas Danby of Massam, 
Esq., Mr. Wandesforde was now prevailed on, being resettled at Kirklington, 
to take on himself the wardship of this young gentleman, and his estate 
which was greatly encumbered with debts and Leases, contracted and made by 
his father, who had loved pleasure, and left this son, another son, and a 
daughter. 

Sir Thomas Wentworth, in a letter dated Nov. 13, 1625, to Sir Walter 
Pie, Attorney of the Court of Wards, informs him, that all the relations of 
the Wards, viz., his Grandmother, Lord D'Arcy [whose mother was a Went- 
worth], and himself, approved of Sir Henry Anderson's turning over the 
wardship of Mr. Danby to Mr. Wandesforde, as the best course for the ward, 
and desires his assistance to dispatch the affair legally, Mr. Wandesforde not 
daring to go to London on account of danger from the plague, but sending 
an agent. 

Mr. Wandesforde managed the estate and affairs of Mr. Danby w T ith the 
same care as if they had been his own. He paid off all just debts, — dischar- 
ged many burthensome annuities, — considerably improved the rents, — and 
provided the best education for the Heir and younger branches. 

Mr. Danby, having lived sometime in Mr. Wandesford's family, had cast 
eyes of affection on his elder daughter, a very pretty young lady, and ap- 
peared so worthy in the eyes of all the family, that though several other 
gentlemen of considerable fortune, etc., were suitors, he was preferred both 
by her and her parents, and being about eighteen years of age, now mar- 
ried her about fifteen. Thereupon Mr. Wandesford delivered to his son-in- 
law all his Estate of 3000/. per annum, clear of all demands of Wardship, 
etc., and added a very handsome fortune in ready money, viz., 1600/., as 
appears from a letter of Lord Strafford. Abstrupus Danby says her fortune 



124 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

granted a Deputation to his brother-in-law Francis 
Armitage, Esq., appointing him to the office of Bow- 
bearer of his Chase in Mashamshire, to hold for his life, 
together with all the fees and emoluments thereof, in 
as ample manner as the same had usually been held 
before. 

Sir Thomas Danby was a Justice of the Peace for the 
North Riding of Yorkshire, and in the year 1638 he was 
appointed to, and executed the office of, High Sheriff of 
the County. 

In the year 1635, he was appointed by his cousin- 
german, Lord Wentworth (afterwards created Earl of 
Strafford) then Lord Lieutenant of the West-Riding of 
Yorkshire, and Lord President of the North, one of his 
Deputy Lieutenants, which was an appomtment of some 
importance at that day. 

It will be seen from the following letters (which are 
preserved in the British Museum, and are to be found 
there, in Add. MSS. 6672, folio 222), that Sir Thomas 
was very active in enforcing the payment of that obnox- 
ious tax, Ship-money,* which proved so disastrous not 

was 2000/. ; and as this couple were too young to begin housekeeping, gave 
entertainment to themselves, servants, and horses, for several years." 

From this account it would seem, that young Thomas Danby's own mo- 
ther (who had taken to herself a second husband) took no interest in the 
boy, but left the arrangement of these matters to his aged grandmother, 
who still lived at Pot Hall, and her relatives, the Wentworths. Also that 
Mr. Wandesford having taken him to live with him in his own house at 
Kirklington, the young gentleman soon began "to cast eyes of affection" 
on his daughter, the " very pretty young lady," Kate, which being recipro- 
cated, ended in the most natural manner possible, in a marriage between the 
two young people. 

* It seems that in ancient times the Kings of England had occasionally 
during the exigencies of a perilous war, called upon the maritine counties to 
furnish ships for the defence of the coast, and that such demands had some- 
times been compounded for by the payment of money. Charles I. being 
much in want of money, and having a difficulty in inducing Parliament to 
grant him supplies, hit upon the expedient of making use of this ancient, 
but long disused, prerogative of the Crown in order to meet his needs. He 
therefore levied Ship-money, not only along the coasts, but also on the 
inland shires, and that, too, in a time of peace, and not for maintaining a 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 



125 



only to his Eoyal master, King Charles I., but to his own 
relative and patron the Earl of Strafford. 

Copy of a letter from Charles Egerton, Esq., of Mar- 
kenfield Hall, near Eipon, to Sir Thomas Danby, Knt. : 

"Noble Sr. 

It is a hundred miles betweene my habitation heere in Staffordshire 
and my house att Markinfield, there in the County of York : so that sud- 
denly I cannot send betweene them where yo'r officer hath driven three of 
my best kine and one calfe, for six Pounds required for Ship money j al- 
though I had before sent unto the Vice-President certaine money to dis- 
charge the same, desireing him to move you I might not be 'sessed above 
forty shillings — in regard of my former sufferings, as he can acquaint you 
— as also that it is as much as many do pay for thrice such an estate. My 
desire is, you will command my goods to be delivered to this bearor, and 
that you will speake w'th Sir Edward Osborne, unto whom, w'th yourself, 
I referr myself. S'r, I pray consider my charges and foure hundreth miles 
Journey heareabout, and ease me the more in my 'Sesment. S'r, by my Ser- 
vante's letter here sent, you may see w'th what severity yo'r Collecter hath 
used me, w'ch I refer to yo'r discretion. 

Newburrow, the 4th of Yo'r Servant, 

December, 1637. Charles Egerton.* 

Copy of letter from the same Charles Egerton, to 
Sir Edward Osborne,f Knt., Baronet, Yice-President of 

navy for the defence of the coasts, but for indirectly furnishing him with 
the supplies which the Parliament would not grant him. This claim so 
alarmed and incensed the whole nation, that it was stoutly resisted by the 
people, and led to the Revolution, by which the King lost his head on the 
scaffold on the 30th of January, 1649. 

* This gentleman was the owner of Markenfield Hall, near Ripon, as to 
which see ante, p. 100. 

t This Sir Edward Osborne was the son of Sir Hewitt Osborne, Knt., 
and grandson of Sir Edward Osborne, Lord Mayor of London in the time 
of Queen Elizabeth. He was the ancestor of the present Duke of Leeds. 




ARMS OF THE DUKE OF LEEDS. 



126 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the Council of the North, annexed : 

"Noble Sr. 

Notwithstanding my request unto you att London, as also that I 
made bould imediately upon my returne thence, to write unto you at Yorke, 
and therew'th sent some money to pay unto Sr. Thomas Danby, for Ship 
money; yet — notwithstanding his officers have driven away some of my 
best Cattle, for Six Pounds demanded for the same — as by this letter sent 
unto me by my servantes may appeare, procareing me great sorrow, labor, 
and charges to signifie the same unto you and the Sheriffe : unto whom I 
have written, requesting both yo'r assistance to se me righted att yo'r plea- 
sures. Hartily wishing either a good life or a quiett grave. 

Yo'r true friend, 

2 of Decemb. 1637. Charles Egerton. 

Copy of letter from the same Charles Egerton to the 
same Sir Richard Osborne, annexed: 

"Noble Sr. 

Under protection of yo'r love, I have made bold to send you by 
this bearer forty shillings, w'ch I desire may be payed to Sir Thom. Danby, 
for this year's Ship money, in discharge of my Lands in Yorkshire — two 
motives inducing me so to do. First, because you promised to move him 
therein, as also to save me the charges and trouble of sending two hundred 
miles to pay the same in Yorkshire. Sr., I was 'sessed there Seaven pound 
the last yeare, when the verry next Towne, with the Manour and all, was 
but forty shillings. 

Noviembar the 25th, 1637. 

To his noble kind freind Sr. Edward Osborne, Knt., Baronett, Vice- 
President of the north, these." 

The above correspondence is addressed " To his noble 
friend Sr. Thomas Danby, Knight, Baronett, High 
Sheriffe for the County of Yorke, give these." 

Sir Thomas Danby was zealously attached to the 
royal cause during the Civil Wars, and was entrusted 
with the command, or colonelcy, of a regiment of sol- 
diers which was raised in this district. 

The King having determined to declare war against 
Scotland, in order to enforce the submission of the peo- 
ple of that country to his will, in regard to the adoption 
by them of Episcopacy and the English Liturgy, which 
they strenuously resisted — set forth upon his mad cru- 
sade in March, 1639, and having arrived at York on 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 127 

the 30th of that month, was there met by a number of 
the Yorkshire nobility and gentry. On that occasion 
he was presented with the following important address, 
which, it will be seen, is signed by, amongst others, Sir 
Thomas Danby. 

" Most dread Sovereign, 

We, your Majesty's most humble and loyal subjects, the Deputy 
Lieutenants and Colonels of the County of York, having heard and consi- 
dered of divers propositions made unto us by Sir Jacob Astley, Knt., Ser- 
jeant Major General of the Field, and Sir Thomas Moreton, Knt. and 
Colonel, conducing to the safety and defence of your Majesty's whole King- 
dom, and more particular of these Northern parts, do, with all humble 
readiness and unanimous consent, profess that in case your Majesty, out of 
your princely wisdom, shall find cause to command our services, we with 
our persons, together with the Trained Bands of this County (being double 
their ancient number, and the charge of any other County near us, propor- 
tionally), will be ready to march, with the arms charged upon us, to such 
place or places of rendezvous as your Majesty shall be pleased to assign : 
there to enter into pay according to your Majesty's instructions, signified by 
the said Sir Jacob Astley. Nevertheless, with all humble submission, we 
beseech your Majesty to take into your gracious consideration in what state 
and condition our country, fortunes, wives, and children, will be then left, 
when those forces shall be totally drawn from us, which, as we conceive, are 
and always have been seated and settled among us for our own defence and 
safety at home, and, for anything that we have heard or can find to the con- 
trary, even in times of great hostility, were never all at once employed out 
of our own County, upon any remote service whatsoever : nor can we but 
expect many insolences and disorders from such forces as shall be raised out 
of other parts for securing ours during our absence, as may appear by expe- 
rience of some former times — all which we most loyally and dutifully sub- 
mit to your Majesty's princely wisdom, being really confident that as your 
Majesty's most vigilant eye of providence ever watcheth over all your king- 
doms in general, for the public peace and preservation, so you w T ill be gra- 
ciously pleased to take us and our County now into your royal consideration, 
who shall be exposed to most danger in case your Majesty be enforced to 
enter into action. Thus beseeching God for your Majesty's long and pros- 
perous reign over us, we humbly rest, your Majesty's most loyal subjects 
and obedient Servants, 

Edward Osborne Hugh Cholmondeley 

William Scott, major Arthur Ingram 

William Savill William Sheffield 

Jo. Hotham George Went worth 

Henry Griffith Edward Rhodes 

William Pennyman Thomas Danby 

Thomas Mesham William Mallory 






128 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE . 

Henry Goodrick George Butler 

William Lister Robert Strickland 

Jo. Ramsden Robert Rockley." 

This document, although full of loyalty, was in truth 
a remonstrance, and intended as such, and ought to have 
induced the King to have refrained from pressing for- 
ward with his army to the border — especially when it 
was well known at the time that the Scots were united 
as a nation in favour of the covenant ; and it was not 
right or just, or even politic, thus to attempt to forbid 
them their liberty of opinion on religious matters. But 
it failed in inducing him to alter his plans. 

Sir Thomas represented the Borough of Eichmond 
in Parliament, and was member for that constituency 
during the memorable Long Parliament. In the year 
1642, however, that august body declared him incapable 
of sitting in it, on account of his attachment to the 
royal cause. 

He also warmly and zealously adhered to, and sup- 
ported, his relative and patron, the unfortunate and 
cruelly persecuted Earl of Strafford, during all his con- 
contentions and trials, and was one of the very few 
persons who ventured to come forward openly and give 
evidence on his behalf, on the occasion of his Trial on 
the Bill of Attainder before Parliament, and to vote 
against his conviction on that occasion. For this, his 
honourable adherence to the cause of the fallen Earl, he 
was one of those few members whose names were pub- 
licly posted up in London on the 3rd of May, 1641, 
immediately after the trial and conviction of the Earl, 
and thus pointed out to the fury of the inflamed popu- 
lace, as " Straffordians." 

The following lines, which are ascribed to the Earl, 
shew that he fully appreciated the kindness and devotion 
thus shewn to him by Sir Thomas and his other friends. 

" The pride of life has vanished, 
And here I stand alone, 
Degraded, stript, and banished 
From all that was my own : 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 



129 



Yet in dreams, when friends surround me 

"With the loyal and the true, 
The youthful links that bound me, 

Seem all riveted anew. 

"When I hear their loyal voices, 

I half forget my wrongs, 
And again my heart rejoices 

In our good old loyal songs. 

Pent up in these dark regions, 

The only gems I boast, 
Are my honour and allegiance — 

All else of earth is lost." 

Sir h. Ellis's Original Letters, Vol. III. 

I may here mention that a good portrait of the Earl 
is preserved at Swinton Park, and may be seen in the 
dining room there. 




ARMS OF THE EARL OP STRAFFORD. 



During the supremacy of the Roundheads Sir Tho- 
mas Danby was long detained a prisoner, and obliged to 
pay a fine of 5600/. to procure his freedom and the 
restoration of his estates. 

After the Restoration, King Charles II., in 1660, in- 
vested him with the Order of " The Royal Oak," which 



K 



130 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Order was projected by that monarch, in order to per- 
petuate the loyalty of his faithful adherents, but was 
afterwards abandoned under the apprehension that it 
might also perpetuate dissensions which had better be 
consigned to oblivion. 

In the Act Book of the Ecclesiastical Court, so often 
before alluded to, and in other evidences which I have 
had the opportunity of examining, we have a melancholy 
insight into the very sad condition of the morals of the 
people of Mashamshire during the time of which I am 
here treating.* They "appear to have been habitually 

*The Rev. James Raine, M.A., in the Preface to his " Depositions from 
the Castle of York, relating- to offences committed in the Northern Counties 
in the seventeenth century," published since the above remarks were penned, 
draws an equally dark picture of the state of the morals of the people in 
the North of England generally at this period. He there says, "Every 
village had its party of thieves : every family had its own fends and wrongs 
to avenge. No one could go to rest with certainty of finding his cattle in his 
fold when he arose in the morning*. The effects of such a system were most 
disastrous. Agriculture was necessarily neglected. Refinement there was 
none, and all the gentler arts were uncultivated and unknown. The hus- 
bandman tilled his fields with his arms by his side, meditating, perhaps, all 
the while a descent upon some neighbouring herd. The landed proprietor, 
also, was but little in advance of his tenant in the social scale. He occasi- 
onally assisted him in his raids. At all times he was willing to cast a cloak 

over his offences On cvciy side there was rapine and bloodshed, and 

the inhabitants of the district, gentle as well as simple, were Ishmaelites 

indeed Of the social position and character of the people of the North 

during the seventeenth century, it is impossible to speak with commendation. 

These Depositions give us a very unvarnished tale Party spirit seems 

to have raged with all the acrimony of later times, unattended by their 

generosity. Treason in one form or another was not unfrequent Many 

vices had sprung up which were congenial to that period, and which the 
rulers treated with unequal justice that is so detrimental to the morals and hap- 
piness of the people. Informers were far too busy with their calumnies and 
lies, and men had not yet learned to look ux)on them with contempt. There 
could be but little security either at home or abroad when freedom of speech 
and liberty of conscience were hampered or denied. Restrictions are too 
frequently the nurses of discontent and crime. What way could education 
have made among the peoj)lewhen superstition was still rampant, and when 
they listened with such implicit belief to every tale of witchcraft and spiri- 
tual manifestations ? Religion also, I fear, had but little hold upon the 
masses. They were obliged indeed to attend the services of the church, but 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 131 

guilty of almost every conceivable offence, not only cog- 
nizable in the Ecclesiastical Courts, but also in the civil 
and criminal Courts of this country. Where there was 
not a systematic opposition to the Reformed Church, 
there was a dogged indifference to its teachings and 
ministrations, and that too in spite of the very severe 

there are few things more detrimental to true piety than such compulsory- 
worship. It hore some very evil fruits. That this was the case the fre- 
quency of the crime of sacrilege is a sufficient proof. When the spirit of 

devotion is strong no unholy hand is laid upon a church There were 

robbers of every description and degree, from the famous Nevinson to the 
ordinary cut-purse. Horse-stealing was a very frequent offence, especially 
in the time of the Civil Wars aud among the disbanded soldiery. Cattle- 
stealing, which is now so rare, was one of the common vices both of town, 
and country. But, perhaps, the most serious and frequent crime was the 
clipping and deterioration of the coin The most striking political of- 
fence was the great Presbyterian rising in October, 1663. That powerful 
party had many real or imaginary grievances to arouse it. The neglect of 
that Sovereign whom they had placed upon the throne — the vices that he 
countenanced and practised — the black Bartholomew Act that emptied so 
many pulpits — generated much bitterness and discontent. This broke out 
at last in open rebellion. A conspiracy was organised at Harrogate and 
Knaresbrough, which spread its ramifications through the whole of the nor- 
thern Counties Numerous arrests were made throughout the north of 

England, and in the Winter a special assize was held, at which the offenders 
were brought to the bar. Twenty-two were executed in Yorkshire, and four 

at Appleby. Many others were kept in prison for a long time Among 

the political offenders of the day, the Quakers must undoubtedly be enume- 
rated. That peculiar sect had only recently sprung into existence, and 
through its luminaries, Fox and Naylor, it was very closely connected with 
the north of England. [There were formerly a great number of Quakers 
settled in Masham Parish, and there is still within it a Quakers' Meeting- 
house and a Burial-ground, although there are not now any Quakers left in 
the Parish]. The infancy of this religious party was more fiery than its 
age. The Quakers were concerned more or less in all the plots of the time. 
It was their delight to abuse the Minister in the pulpit, and the Judge upon 
the bench. They were continually violating public order and decency in 
the grossest manner. They prophesied — they walked about the streets in 
the unadorned simplicity of our first parents — they howled and bellowed as 
if an evil spirit was within them — they professed to use earthly weapons, as 
the sword of the Lord and of Gideon. Madness like this was of course 
intolerable. The Yorkshire Justices clapped the deluded creatures into 
prison — they suppressed their conventicles — they forced upon them the oath 
of allegiance, and cooled their religious ardour in the gaol." 



132 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

enactments, which were put in force with great rigour, 
by a not unwilling clergy, to coerce them into submis- 
sion by an unwilling adoption by them of a new-fangled 
creed, which found no favour either in their understand- 
ings or their consciences. This was, undoubtedly, the 
case, as to a large majority of the people in this parish; 
and the great bulk of those who seemingly conformed 
to the doctrines of the Reformed Church, did so merely 
because of their utter indifference to all religion what- 
ever, and would as readily have conformed themselves to 
Mahomedanism, or any other form of religion, imposed 
upon them by the state. Hence lawlessness and crime 
became the rule rather than the exception. This was no 
doubt attributable to the unsettled state of things which 
had prevailed from the time of the Reformation as re- 
gards religion. The Reformation had unsettled every- 
thing, and had especially unloosed men's minds from all 
restraint and authority. The Roman Catholics, on the 
one hand, were no longer under the control of their 
priesthood, which had hitherto exercised a wholesome 
and salutary influence and authority over them, and 
their moral conduct ; and, being denied the counsel and 
advice of their own chosen guides, they refused to recog- 
nize the authority of the Protestant Clergy, who had 
superseded them ; whilst on the other hand, the Pro- 
testants, or such as chose to call themselves by that 
name, were impatient of all priestly control whatever, 
and have not, even to this very day, acknowledged the 
authority of their clergy over them, in anything like the 
same degree as the Roman Catholics have ever done 
towards their priesthood. All authority being thus 
gone, the people were left like a bark without a rudder 
on the troubled ocean, to be tossed about by every wind, 
and the consequence was, that they gradually, but surely, 
drifted into schism, and schism, ever begetting and repro- 
ducing schism, (coupled with each individual, however 
ignorant and unlearned, claiming to be divinely inspired, 
and to exercise and act upon his own private judgment, 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 133 

as to the rule of his faith and conduct), they ran into the 
adoption of a great number of errors, contradictions, 
and absurdities, which ended in their splitting up into 
numberless sects, professing very opposite and contra- 
dictory views upon the subject of religion; and thus 
they brought religion in general into disrepute, as well 
as scandal upon its professors.* 

Men then rose up, as they have ever done, and will 
ever do again, in like circumstances, 

" With passions under no command, 
Who fill the world with doctrines contraband, 
Discoverers of they know not what, confined 
Within no bounds — the blind that lead the blind." 

This was especially the case with the Puritans, who 
seemed to think that religion consisted in adopting a 
peculiar gait and garb — in wearing lank hair cut in such 
a manner as to represent an inverted bowl on their heads 
(from which circumstance they acquired the name of 
u Roundheads ") — in assuming a sour solemnity of coun- 
tenance — in turning up the whites of their eyes — in al- 
ways speaking with a nasal twang, and in a peculiar 
dialect — in using the imagery and style of Scripture, 
in speaking of the every day occurrences of lifef — in 

* Principal Tulloch in his "English Puritanism and its Leaders" says 
on this subject, " Startling as such contrasts appear, and inconsistent with all 
sanity of judgment, they were not uncommon in this age. Men's minds in 
such a storm of religious fervour as prevailed, passed rapidly from one ex- 
treme to another. There was no principle too fixed or sacred for discussion ; 
all landmarks in religious doctrines and experience had been torn up, arid 
the spirit of inquiry, once set in motion, ran in many cases from indifference 
to earnestness and the study of the Bible, and from these again, under some 
new and irrepressible stimulus, to contempt, and libertinism both of thought 
and practice." 

f Cant was the fashion of the day ; and where a letter was not profusely 
interlarded with the language and figures of Holy Writ, the author was 
liable to be suspected of indifference or affection to the cause. 

"An evil soul, producing holy witness, 
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek." 

Shakspere. 
"And thus he clothes his naked villainy 
With old odd ends stol'n forth of Holy Writ." 

Dr. Beattie's Castles and Abbeys. 



134 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

their dislike to organ music in their Churches — in a hor- 
ror to a liturgy and to bishops — but above all at the sight 
of a cross (the emblem of our salvation), or other orna- 
ments or decorations usually met with in God's house. 
Such being their principles they interdicted, under heavy 
penalties, the use of the Book of Common Prayer, not 
only hi the Churches, but in private houses — ejected 
many thousands of the Clergy from their benefices, 
merely because they did not come up to their standard, 
and did not adopt their peculiarities — defaced many of 
the fine works of art, and remains of antiquity found in 
our Churches — and prohibited every species of amuse- 
ment however harmless — at the same time quoting texts 
of Scripture in support of their atrocities. 

" The world is still deceived with ornament 

# # # # # 

■ In 'Religion, 



"What damned error, but some sober brow 
Will bless it, and approve it with a text, 
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament ? 
There is no vice so simple, but assumes 

Some mark of virtue on its outward parts. 

# * * * # 

Thus ornament is but the guiled shore 

To the most dangerous sea : the bounteous scarf 

Veiling an Indian beauty : in a word, 

The seeming Truth which cunning times put on 

To entrap the wisest." 



Shakspere. 



The principles of these canting, whining fanatics, seem 
to have extended themselves into our own parish, and 
even to the person of the then vicar of Masham, the Rev. 
Gilbert Horseman, who, amongst other things, objected 
to wearing the prescribed vestments during the celebra- 
tion by him of divine service, as well as to " reading 
Prayers upon the Eves of Sundays and Holy days," and 
" the Litany and other Prayers upon Wednesdays and 
Fridays," and to toll the bell for Prayers upon Wednes- 
days and Fridays, as had hitherto been the practice, for 
which offence he was suspended from his ministrations 




HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 135 

by our Ecclesiastical Court, but more effectually by his 
resignation and death, which took place shortly after- 
wards. But 

" Soon their crude notions with each other fought ; 

The adverse sect deny'd what this had taught ; 

And he at length the amplest triumph gain'd, 

Who contradicted what the last maintain'd." 

Prior. 

Accordingly a few years later, the Rev. Benjamin 
Browne, the then Vicar of Masham, who was more 
orthodox 'in his doctrines and practices, was ejected 
from, and kept out of his vicarage for some twelve years 
by the Puritans, during which time his place was sup- 
plied by nonconforming ministers, who intruded them- 
selves into his living. They, too, in their turn, were 
ejected soon after the Restoration, when Mr. Browne 
was restored to his living. The sentiment contained in 
the following couplet will commend itself to all right- 
thinking people, when placed in circumstances such as 
have here been described : 

" To live uprightly then is sure the hest, 
To save ourselves, and not to damn the rest." 

Dryden. 

During this unhappy and troublous period our Church 
was despoiled of its carved Rood Screen and Lattices, 
which till then separated the choir and side chapels from 
the nave*" — of its Altar-rails, which, no doubt, were too 
ornamental for the puritanical taste of the times — its 
encaustic Tiles at the Communion Table — of its stained 

* Dr. Whitaker, in his History of Richmondshire, in speaking of the de- 
struction of the Rood Screen in our Church, thus characteristically expresses 
himself: " Highly as the neatness and exact repair of the Church are to be 
commended, it is still matter of regret that all the Screens and Lattices, 
which once separated the Choir and the Side Chapels from the nave, have 
been removed. In the breaking down of these fences, either to sanctity or 
to property, there is something extremely like the breaking down of all dis- 
tinction between the different ranks of society, which is one of the worst, 
among many, bad symptoms of the age. A shield, bearing argent on a fess 
between three plain cotises, gules, as many Jleurs de lys, was in a northern 
window in 1622." 



136 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

glass windows (fragments of which encaustic tiles and 
stained glass were found buried under the floor of the 
church during the late restorations) — of some of its 
brasses, sepulchral crosses, and other ornaments. Well 
may it be said, 

" Arouse the tiger of Hyrcanian deserts, 
Strive with the half-starved lion for his prey ; 
Lesser the risk, than rouse the slumbering fire 
Of wild fanaticism." 

Thus it will be seen that the Church had to undergo 
its trials, as well as Sir Thomas Danby, the then Lord 
of Mashamshire. Whilst the Restoration put an end to 
the trials of the Church, death, about the same time, 
put an end to the sufferings of Sir Thomas, he having 
died in London on the 5th of August, 1660, when he 
was buried in the north choir in York Minster. 

Thomas Danby (who was a captain in the Royal Army 
and the first mayor of Leeds) succeeded him in his es- 
tates. He did not, however, live long to enjoy them, 
having been slain before Leeds in 1667, when he was 
succeeded by his son Thomas Danby, who was a minor 
at the time. He too only lived some four years, when 
he was succeeded by his brother Christopher Danby, 
who, within two years afterwards, was killed by a fall 
from his horse, whilst hunting on Watlass moor. 

By the death of all the three sons of Sir Thomas 
Danby, in such rapid succession, Mashamshire, in 
the year 1683, became vested in Sir Thomas's brother, 
Christopher Danby, Esq., as the heir-at-law of his last 
surviving nephew. He, however, . in the same year 
granted Mashamshire to his eldest son, Sir Abstrupus 
Danby, Knt., who immediately entered into the posses- 
sion and enjoyment of it. 

Sir Abstrupus, very fortunately, was in the prime of 
life when he thus came into possession of the estate 
(being then thirty -two years of age) for it was then very 
much involved in debt, owing partly to the extravagance 
and bad management of some of his ancestors, and partly 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE, 137 

to the heavy losses which his grandfather, Sir Thomas 
Danby, had sustained by the Civil Wars. Under such 
circumstances, there was great need of such a person as 
he proved himself to be, in order to put matters again 
on a proper footing. He, accordingly, proceeded to 
sell off the outlying and detached estates at Watlass, 
Thorp-Perrow, Scruton, and Driffield; and, with the 
money thus realised, paid off the outstanding debts and 
charges upon the lands in Mashamshire. He at the 
same time bought from Mr. Norton the remaining one- 
third* of the Manor of Swinton, together with the Man- 
sion-house there ; and thus becoming the sole owner of 
it, he changed the family residence or seat from Thorp- 
Perrow to Swinton. Such was the debt of gratitude 
which he thus earned for himself from his family, that 
on his death, they caused a very expensive and sump- 
tuous monument to be erected to his memory in Masham 
church, on which they state, " God favouring him he 
was the Restorer of his Family" ; which seems in their 
eyes, at least, to have been his only merit, for they do 
not in their inscription to his memory, ascribe any other 
to him, although he was as well entitled to an eulogistic 
epitaph as any of his successors. 

Besides thus improving the family estates, Sir Abstru- 
pus found time also to serve his country and the public, 
as all gentlemen possessing his means and abilities ought 
to do. He was an active Justice of the Peace, and 
Deputy Lieutenant for the North-Riding of Yorkshire ; 
and in the year 1698, he represented the ancient Borough 
of Aldborough, near Boroughbridge, in Parliament. If 
however, we are to place any reliance upon the following 
couplet, which was written of him, it would seem he 
was not a very valiant man : 

"Sir Abstrupus was a Knight: 
Wore a sword, and would not fight." 

Sir Abstrupus, however deficient he may have been in 

* It will be seen that at page 109 ante, that the mother of Christopher 
Danby had previously bought two-thirds of the Manor of Swinton. 



138 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



valour, does not appear to have been wanting in family 
pride, (which, by the way, is a very pardonable, if not a 
laudable weakness), if one may judge from the following 
inscription, which he had put at the foot of an engraving 
of Swinton Hall, he had engraved in the year 1723. It 
runs thus : " Swinton Hall, the Seat of Sir Abstrupus 
Danby, Knt., one of ye Heirs general of the Lords 
Scroop of Masham and Upsal : and by marriages with 
the several houses of Wivel, Lord Latimer, and the 
Earl of Westmorland, is descended from John of Gaunt, 




THE OLD HALL AT SWINTON, 1723. 



Duke of Lancaster, fourth son to the most victorious 
Prince Edward the third King of England, &c." A truly 
noble descent certainly, and one of which Sir Abstrupus 
or any one else might well feel proud. 

He married Judith the daughter of Abraham Moon, 
a merchant in London, and relict of William Davies, 
Esq., younger brother to Sir Thomas Davies, Lord 
Mayor of London; and dying on the 24th Deer. 1727, 
he was succeeded by his son Abstrupus Danby, Esq. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 



139 



The following sketch from Sir Abstrupus Danby's 
Pedigree, will shew that he was perfectly justified in 
laying claim to the royal descent here mentioned: — 

Henry III., King of England^Eleanor, dau. and coheir of Raymond Berenger. 



Edward I., King : 
of England. 



: Eleanor, daughter of Ferdi- 
nand III., King of Castile. 



Edmund Earl= 
of Lancaster. 



=Blanche, Queen 
Dow. of Navarre. 



Edward II.,=^=Eleanor, daughter of Philip 



King of 
England. 



the Fair, King of 
France. 



Henry, =pMaud, daughter and 
Earl of | heiress of Sir Patrick 
Lancaster. Chaworth. 



Edward 1 1 1., =j= Phillip a, daughter of William, Lady Mary =pHenry, 3rd Lord 

~)ied Pla.ntagenet. Percy, of Aln- 
wick. 

r J 

Henry, 4th LoRD^Maud, sister and 



King of 
England. 



Count of Hainault. 
1369. 



John of GAUNT,=pCatharine, widow 



4th son of King 
Edward III. 



of Sir Otho de 
Swinford, Knt., 
(his third wife.) 



Percy, father of 
the renowned 
" Hotspur." 



heiress of An- 
thony Lord 
Lucy. 



1 I : 

Maud PERCY=f=John de Neville, 3rd Lord Neville, of Raby. 
I , 1 

Joan de Beau-=j=Ralph Neville, lst^Margaret, daughter of Hugh Earl of 
fort (2nd wife), j Earl of Westmoreland. | Stafford (1st wife). 



George ^Lady Elizabeth Beauchamp, daugh- 



Neville, 
1st Lord 
Latimer. 



ter of Richard Earl of Warwick, 
the "King maker," whose daugh- 
ter Anne married Richard III. 



John, died=p. 
in the life 
time of his 
father. 



Sir Henry Neville, who : 
fell at the battle of Edg- 
cot, near Banbury, in the 
life time of his father. 



Richard, 2nd : 
Lord Latimer, 
of Snape Castle. 



: Joanna, dau. 
of Jn. Bour- 
chier Lord 
Berners. 

J 

daughter 



Ralph, 2nd= Elizabeth, 
Earl of dau. of 

Westmore- Henry Lord 
land. Percy. 



1 

John : 



— J 



: Anne, daughter of 

Sir Humphrey 

Stafford, of Grafton. 



Ralph NEViLLE,=f=Margaret, daugh- 
3rd Earl of West- ter of Sir Roger 
moreland. | Booth, of Barton. 

I 



ELizA-^Sir Christopher 
beth. I Danby, Knt., of 
Thorpe- Perrow. 



Ralph Neville,= 
4th Earl of West- 
moreland. 



1 



: Lady Catharine Stafford, 
daughter of Edward Duke 
of Buckingham. 



Sir Thomas Danby, Knt.=f=MARY, dau. of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmoreland. 

m r J 

Thomas Danby, Esa.^Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Wentworth, Esq. 

I ' 

Christopher Danby, Eso,=r Frances, <*• of Ed. Parker Lord Morley and Monteagle. 

I ' 

Sir Thomas Danby, KNT.=pCatharine Wandesford, of Kirklington. 

I ' 

Christopher Danby, Esct.=T=Ann, daughter of Col. Edward Colepepper. 

I • — ' 

Sir Abstrupus Danby, Knt., 12th in direct descent from Edward III., King 

of England. 



140 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSIIIEE. 



This Abstrupus Danby was of the mature age of 
forty-seven when he came to the family estates, and al- 
though he lived to enjoy them some twenty-three years, 
he was of such unassuming and retired habits that he 
took no part in public business, but lived for himself 
alone (as many country gentry do) without leaving any 
record in the page of history and still less in the scroll 
of fame, or any good deeds to perpetuate his memory, 
or shew that any such person had ever existed. 

" What is a man, 
If his chief good, and market of his time, 
Be hut to sleep, and feed ? a beast, no more, 
Sure, He, that made us with such large discourse, 
Looking before, and after, gave us not 
That capability and Godlike reason 

To rust in us unused." 

Shakspere. 

In the month of January 1741, a contested election 
took place for the representation of the County of York 
in Parliament. The following extracts taken from the 
Poll Book on that occasion will furnish the names of the 
persons who were Freeholders within Mashamshire at 
that date. 



Freeholders' Names. 


Where Freeholds lye. 


Place of Abode. 


Candidate. 


Thomas Banks .... 


Masham 


Masham 


Chomley & } 
Turner. j 


Joseph Calvert .... 


Grewelthorpe . . 




Turner. 


Thomas Fownes* . . 


Masham Parish . 


Masham Parish . 


Turner. 


Christopher Gardiner 




Masham 


Turner. 


Thomas Jackson .... 


Masham Parish . 


Masham 


Turner. 


John Lonsdale .... 


Bellerby 




Turner. 


William Lupton .... 


Skipton in Craven 


Masham 


Turner. 


Matthew Metcalf f . . 


Nidderdale 


Masham 


Turner. 


William Thirkhill .. 




Masham 


Turner. 








Turner. 




Kirkby Malzeard 


Masham 


Turner. 



* The Grandfather of Thomas and Solomon Fawnes of Fearby. 
f The Schoolmaster of the Masham Free School, who appears to have 
voted in right of the land belonging to the School. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 141 

During the Scotch Rebellion of 1745, the good people 
of Mashamshire were thrown into a great state of trepi- 
dation and alarm by the report of a great victory which 
the young Pretender had gained over the English army 
(probably referring to the battle of Falkirk, which was 
fought on the 17 th of January, 1746), and that the 
Scots' army were making rapid advances towards this 
neighbourhood. They all, thus panic-struck, with one 
accord, proceeded at once to bury and conceal the 
most valuable of their several goods and chattels, in the 
most extraordinary places, and in the most ludicrous 
manner : not forgetting at the same time to conceal their 
own precious persons in the best way they were able. 
After the danger was past, the many ridiculous scenes 
which the panic gave rise to, were much talked of, and 
were long remembered by the name of u Run-away- 
Wednesday." 

Abstrupus Danby, Esq., the then Lord of Masham 
and Mashamshire, married Eliza the daughter of Arthur 
Ingram, Esq., of Barrowby, brother to Henry Lord Ir- 
win; and, dying on the 12th of March, 1750, was suc- 
ceeded in his estates by his eldest son, William Danby. 

William Danby was a different person altogether to 
his father. He was a gentleman of great intelligence and 
good taste combined, with active business habits, talents 
which he brought into full play in the improvement of 
his vast estate, and the amelioration of the condition of 
the people upon it. He reclaimed and brought into 
profitable cultivation large tracts of the moor-lands, and 
also considerably improved his own private residence 
and pleasure grounds at Swinton, the latter of which 
he laid out with great judgment and good taste. His 
improvements altogether appear to have been such as to 
have attracted considerable attention at the time, and to 
have been the subject of much comment. 

He was also a great benefactor to the charities of the 
town and parish of Masham, as well as to the Church, 
besides being the largest contributor to the establishing 



142 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

and founding of the Grammar and Free Schools, in 
Masham, as will be seen hereafter when I come to treat 
of these charities. 

About the year 1768, in consequence of the fame of 
his extensive improvements upon his estates, he was 
honoured with a visit from Arthur Young, the eminent 
agricultural author of that period, whose works, coupled 
with his Tour, gave such an impetus at the time to that 
science, and to the improvement generally of the large 
landed estates of this country. He has devoted several 
pages of his work, called his " Northern Tour," to notic- 
ing the state of agriculture at that time within this parish, 
and his remarks are so good and interesting that I am 
tempted, by way of elucidating the improvements then 
being effected by Mr. Danby, to copy from it very freely. 
In speaking of the course of husbandry pursued within 
this parish, he says : " Their courses of Husbandry are 
1st, Fallow — 2nd, Wheat — 3rd, Beans. Another course 
is 1st, Fallow — 2nd, Wheat — 3rd, Turnips (which latter 
is the cart before the horse). For Wheat they plough 
four or five times — sow from nine to eleven pecks about 
Michaelmas, and reckon to average two and a half quar- 
ters. For Barley they plough three times, sow from 
ten to twelve pecks in April, and gain at a medium the 
same quantity as of Wheat. For Oats they give but 
one stirring, sow four and a half bushels in March, and 
reckon the mean crop at three quarters. They give but 
one earth for Beans, sow as much as of oats the end of 
February or the beginning of March, broadcast — never 
hoe — the crop two quarters. They plough but once for 
Peas, sow nine or ten pecks in March — the crop the 
same as of beans. For Turnips they give four plough- 
ings, sow them the end of May or beginning of June — 
it is known amongst the farmers that such a practice as 
hoeing exists, and some of them begin to talk a little of 
it, but very few have practised it. The average value 
per acre is 21. 10s. They plough once or twice for 
Rape, sow it at the end of July, never feed it — sow 



HISTOEY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 143 

Wheat after it — know nothing of Clover. Pay very 
little attention to raising large quantities of Manure — 
their principal dependence is upon Lime, of which they 
lay from one to two and a half chaldrons per acre. Good 
Grass lets from 20s. to 25s. per acre. The summer joist 
of a cow from 20s. to 25s. The annual expense of a 
Horse (including shoeing) they reckon at 11. The sum- 
mer joist is 45s., and that of winter Is. 6d. per week. 
Poor-rates twopence to fivepence in the pound — at Mas- 
ham tenpence. The employment, spinning of worsted : 
a woman earns, if industrious, sixpence or eightpence a 
day. All drink Tea.* Price of labour, &c. — In Har- 
vest 26s. or 28s. and board and lodging. . In Hay-time 

a mower 30s. a month and board and lodging — in Win- 
s' ^ 
ter sixpence a day and board and lodging. Mowing 

grass two shillings per acre. First man's wages, 10/. to 
13/. — next ditto ll. — Boy of ten or twelve years, 31. — ■ 
Dairymaids, 51. — other maids SI. 10s. to 4/. 4s. Women 
per day in Harvest tenpence to one shilling — in Hay- 
time sevenpence to eightpence— in Winter sixpence. 
Price of Provisions, &c. — Cheese 2d., Butter 8d. the 
22 ounces— Beef 3d, Mutton 3d, Yeal 3d, Pork §\d. 
— Milk one halfpenny the one and a half pint — Potatoes 
Z\d. the peck — Turnips 3d ditto — Candles 6^d the lb. 
Soap Id. the lb. Labourer's House-rent 15s. to 40s. 
Firing 15s." 

Such is Mr. Young's general summary of the state 
and practice of agriculture, within this parish, nearly 
one hundred years ago. In a subsequent part of his 
work he has the following observations, having reference 
to Masham parish. 

" One of Mr. Danby's tenants (Lightfoot by name) 
has shewn, in one or two instances, somewhat more at- 
tention to improvements than the general herd. He has 
cultivated Cabbages four years — winter fallows the land 
for them, and sets the rows three feet asunder, and the 

* Tea was first brought into England in 1666, and was for some time 
generally sold for 60s. per pound. 



i 



144 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

plants 22 inches. He finds them, both in quantity and 
use, far beyond turnips : values all he has had at 6/. an 
acre. I asked him what he would take for the present 
year's crop of three acres, he replied he would not sell 
them at all. Could you take 101. an acre? 'Tis a deal 
of money replied he, but I would not part with them at 
all. An answer in the mouth of a common farmer, and 
that a little one too, after four year's experience, is de- 
cisive with me in respect to the value of Cabbages. But 
the object much the most worthy of attention in this 
country is the immense tract of moors which back it to' 
the westward. Mr. Danby possesses several thousands 
of contiguous acres, which do not yield him a tenth part 
as many farthings a year. 

He has a Colliery upon the edge of his moors which 
employs many hands. The cottages of the colliers are 
scattered about at no great distance. Each had at first 
a small garden, which from the great foresight and re- 
fined politics (for I can give the conduct no other name) 
of their landlord grew into little farms." He here adds 
in a note, " Great praise is here given to Mr. Danby for 
his judgment and kindness towards the miners, and after 
their own farms are in good cultivation, he encloses part 
of the moor for their use, which after some years they 
pay a trifling rent." 

The best intelligence I gained was of James Croft one 
of the colliers. But this man deserves a more particular 
attention. Thirteen years ago he began his husbandry 
by taking in an acre of moor, which he pared and burnt, 
spread three chaldrons of lime among the ashes, and 
sowed it with oats, of which he got but an indifferent 
crop. He next threw in three more chaldrons, planted 
half of it with potatoes, and sowed the other half with 
maslin, the crop middling. He then limed it again, 
sowed it with oats, the crop thirty-five bushels. After 
another liming he sowed it with oats, and gained fifty 
bushels. Next he limed it again, and sowed half of it 
with barley, and planted the other half with potatoes, 






HISTORY OF MASHAMSH1RE. 145 

the crops but indifferent. He then limed it again, and 
sowed oats once more of which he got forty bushels. 
With these oats he sowed hay-seeds, all he could get 
together or procure, which was thirty-six bushels. After 
the oats were off he mixed some lime and earth together 
and spread over the land. The grass came very finely 
and has been exceedingly good ever since, and improving 
every year, and it is now worth twenty shillings an acre. 
I viewed it attentively, and think it well worth that rent. 

This first essay was very spirited, but not carried on 
upon principles which can be altogether approved of. 
Indeed it could not be expected that a poor collier should 
strike at once, and without any experience, into an accu- 
rate and correct husbandry. 

His next effort was upon an addition of eight acres, 
which, however, were too much for him to improve at 
once, but he effected it all by degrees. Three acres 
were exceedingly stony, so that after a division by walls 
built out of them, many remained. One acre cost him 
two months to clear and fill up the holes. Some single 
stones required near a week. Laborious as the work 
was he completed by degrees, and pared and burnt the 
soil. He threw these lands into better husbandry 
(though not totally defensible) than what he used before. 
His method was to sow turnips upon the pared and 
burned land, after liming two chaldrons per acre, which 
costs by the time it is laid on the land Us. Qd. a chal- 
dron. The turnips are generally worth 20<s. to 30s. an 
acre. He draws and scatters them on his grass for his 
cows and young cattle. After the turnips he ploughs 
four times, lays on two chaldrons per acre of lime, and 
sows oats, eight bushels per acre. The crop varies from 
forty to sixty bushels. After these oats he sows four 
more successive crops of them, for each of which he 
ploughs three or four times, and also limes at the rate 
of two chaldrons per acre. The average of these crops 
is forty-six bushels per acre. With the last he lays 
down to grass by sowing plenty of hay-seeds. 

L 



146 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

This has been his general course, but sometimes he 
has sown rye, of which he generally gets thirty- six 
bushels per acre. Potatoes he has regularly cultivated : 
sets them in rows two feet asunder, and one foot in the 
rows ; in which manner thirteen bushels plant an acre. 
The mean produce is 158 bushels. 

Two years ago he took in eight acres more, on which 
he is now hard at work. It is astonishing with what 
perseverance he attacks the most enormous stones, cut- 
ting them in pieces, carrying them away, and then bring- 
ing mould to fill the holes up, and he has such an idea 
of heather that he will not pass one. He has five acres 
of grass, his management of which is very good. He 
lays all the dung he can raise upon it, mixed well with 
lime, and sometimes with good earth ; and this dressing 
he repeats every third year, without failing. His stock of 
cattle is three milch cows, a heifer, and a galloway : their 
winter food, hay, turnips, and straw. Two acres of 
commonly improved grass (from moors) he reckons suffi- 
cient to summer feed a cow, but an acre and a half of 
his will do. He makes six pounds of butter per cow per 
week, twenty-four ounces to the pound, for three months, 
and four pounds the rest of the summer. And each of 
his cows eat an acre of hay in the winter. He has not 
yet had enough of his own for them, buying some, but 
hopes soon to effect that. 

Besides the mere husbandry of his fields, he has done 
something in the ornamental way, having almost sur- 
rounded two of his closes with a young plantation of firs 
and other trees, which thrive extremely well. Attentive 
to every object that can render the farm either profitable, 
convenient, or agreeable, he has with no slight trouble 
directed a little rill of water from the moors through his 
fields, by which means he not only has water in every 
field for his cattle, but can also water some of his grass, 
and thereby fertilize it much. Were I to dwell upon 
every circumstance of this collier's husbandry, I should 
be afraid of tediousness, but I shall not conclude without 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. • 147 

attempting to give you some idea of the man as well as 
his farm. 

I have shewn you how he has managed for several 
years above nine acres of land, much of it always in 
tillage, and some constantly fresh breaking up and im- 
proving. We have found him cropping his land several 
years successively (a practice though bad, yet of increa- 
sing labour) never sowing any without a previous ample 
liming, and three or four ploughings — adding to his 
cultivated land, by perfectly clearing the fresh soil from 
all stones, some of them of enormous size, of many tons 
weight, and by paring and burning in the most spirited 
and laborious manner. When you consider these circum- 
stances, and that at the same time he has had the courage 
to attack eight acres more, will you not conclude that he 
has received much assistance, either of money or labour, 
or that many favourable circumstances hitherto unre- 
lated, have enabled him to make such advances in so 
spirited a conduct? But the very contrary of all this is 
the case. His work in the colliery has been regular, 
equal in every respect to the other men, and in some 
superior. His hour of going to the mine is twelve 
o'clock at night, the work and time of meals are over 
at noon the next. The remainder is all he has had to per- 
form what I can scarcely call less than wonders : nor 
has he ever received the least assistance of any kind, or 
ever expended one shilling in hiring the labour of ano- 
ther man. The quantity of lime he has laid on his land 
is very great, and much more than what is commonly 
used by the neighbouring farmers; the number of 
ploughings he has given his fields is equally superior; 
and yet all this labour has been performed with a single 
galloway, the lime brought six miles. It is astonishing 
what a spirit of perseverance must have actuated this 
extraordinary man, to execute with such slight engines, 
works that will put many farmers with teams to the 
blush. Some assistance in weeding potatoes, in harvest, 
&c, and such slight work he has received from his 



148 MASH AM AND MASHAMSRIRE. 

family, but you may suppose it not considerable, when I 
tell you that of four or five children, he has only one 
son about fourteen years of age, who works with him 
constantly in the colliery. From the time of leaving 
off work in the mine till that of sleeping, he has regu- 
larly spent in unremitted labour in his farm; since his 
beginning he has never had more than four hours sleep, 
and of moon-light or star-light nights, seldom so much. 
The regular severe fatigue of the colliery has not been 
sufficient to bow down the spirit of this poor fellow. He 
applies the remainder of the day, and even steals from 
the night, to prosecute his favourite works of husbandry 
— that is, to make up his hours of work to twenty, out 
of the twenty-four. Such a conduct requires a genius 
of a peculiar cast — daring in his courage and spirited in 
his ideas ; the most extensive plans are neither too vast, 
nor too complicated, to be embraced with facility, by his 
bold and comprehensive imagination ; with a penetration 
that sees the remotest difficulty; a prudence and firm- 
ness of mind that removes every one the moment it is 
foreseen ; we attribute the wonders he has performed to 
the powers of his mind, and almost forget that the whole 
which is executed of his ideas, has been the work of his 
own hands. The severest fatigue, the most assiduous 
labour, have been unable to quench the fire of the one, 
or repress the vigour of the other. The greatest, and 
indeed, the only object of his thoughts, is the improve- 
ment of the wilds that surround him, over which he 
casts an anxious but magnanimous eye, wishing for the 
freedom to attack, with his own hands, an enemy, the 
conquest of whom would yield laurels to a man of ample 
fortune. I asked him what he would do if he had his 
whole time to apply to his farm : "I could perform 
something/' said he, " at present I do nothing." Hint- 
ing to him that I would mention to Mr. Danby the re- 
leasing him from the colliery, that all his time might be 
applied to farming, his countenance was animated at the 
very idea : his eyes sparkled with pleasure. Upon my 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 149 

asking him further, if he did not think every part of the 
moors were highly susceptible of improvement : " Im- 
provement, Sir ! " he replied with eagerness, " there is 
not an acre but might be made as good land as a man 
would wish to farm." Upon my asking him further, if 
he thought he could improve a larger tract than was 
within the power of one pair of hands, by having men, 
horses and carts, &c, put under his direction? "Aye 
sure," he replied, "for it is nothing more than extend- 
ing the proportion of ten acres to a great number. It 
would be hard indeed, Sir, if a man that had improved 
ten acres with his own hands, could not direct the im- 
provement of one hundred, or a thousand." What 
would you do if any unthought of accident gave you an 
hundred pounds? " Lay it all out in improving land." 
I had a long conversation with him upon these subjects,, 
and found him very sensible, spirited, and most enthusi- 
astically devoted to the improving of moors. His ideas 
are clear and shining, and though his language is totally 
unrefined and provincial, insomuch that some attention 
is necessary to comprehend the plainest of his meaning; 
yet whoever will take the pains to examine him, will 
find him a genius in husbandry ; a diamond of the first 
water, but so buried in the obscurity of the mine as to 
be scarcely distinguishable from the vulgar rubbish that 
surrounds it. The view of this remarkable man's little 
farm, and the conversation I had with him upon the im- 
provement of moors, a point of such vast importance in 
this country, prejudiced me so much in his favour as to 
make me wish it were possible to enable him not only to 
add greatly to his farm, but to conduct the culture of it 
upon a spirited plan. I mentioned it to Mr. Danby 
(who had at first introduced me to him as an extraordi- 
nary fellow) and he agreed with me that his being a 
collier spoiled a good farmer, adding that he had thought 
of giving him more land, and also releasing him from 
the coal-mine. This gave me much pleasure, not doubt- 
ing but so spirited a mind, with a body so active and 



150 



MASHAM AKD MASHAMSHIKE. 



vigorous, would alone do wonders. I 



regret 



that the 



nation at large should lose the benefit that might be 
made to result from the labours of a genius in the most 
useful walk of all. While we viewed Croft's fields, Mr. 
Danby asked his steward, who was present, what he 
could let such grass as all Croft's at per acre. He re- 
plied, in quantities of any extent, at 15s. an acre, but in 
small parcels of twenty or thirty acres, at 20s. — an im- 
provement which is astonishing, from land that was 
absolutely and wholly waste. But the goodness of it 
appears also from Croft's stock of cattle, and the quan- 
tity applied to feed a cow, which will be found not more 
perhaps than the medium quantity, through the cultiva- 
ted counties of this whole Tour. It is from these cir- 
cumstances evident enough, that this kind of moor land 
is amply capable of improvement, and that there is no- 
thing in the nature of the soil which gives any reason to 
doubt of rendering it exceeding good land." 

Again, in another part of his Northern Tour, allud- 
ing to this Parish, Mr. Young further says : 

" The Roads which branch every way around Swinton 
are admirable, and owing entirely to the generosity and 
spirit of Mr. Danby. Through his own territory, which 
is very extensive, he makes them at his own expense, and 
in so excellent a manner, as to be superior to most Turn- 
pike Roads ; but the neighbouring roads he contributes 
largely to, and bribes the Parishes to seek their own 
good. By this uncommon spirit, he has either made, or 
greatly improved, above twenty miles of road : a noble 
example. 

" The very excellent and worthy owner of Swinton 
has made that seat one of the pleasantest places in this 
country: he has surrounded the house with a most 
beautiful Park, finely wooded and watered, and has 
added Plantations and Pleasure-grounds, in a style of 
great propriety and taste. With much trouble and 
expense, he has brought several miles, a small but ele- 
gant stream, through his Gardens and Park, which in 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHTRE. 



151 



some places breaks into very fine Lakes, in others con- 
tracts into the size of a little rill, which winds through 
the woods in a most pleasant manner ; here falling into 
cascades, it enlivens the whole scene : there, withdraws 
from the eye, and hides itself in the dark bosom of 
tufted groves. The house is very convenient and ele- 
gantly furnished.' ' 




HACKFALL. 



Hackfall,* although not situate within the limits of 
Mashamshire, but in immediate contiguity to it, is a 

* The late Mr. George Cuitt, who was many years a respected inha- 
bitant of Masham (where he died), and was a great admirer of the beautiful 
in nature, as well as an artist of the highest order, says in his " Wanderings 
and Pencillings amongst Ruins of Olden Times," in speaking of Hackfall, 
" It is situated in Hags', or Witches' Vale, whence its name of ' Hags- Vale ' 
has by corruption assumed its present orthography. There is no situation, 
indeed, which could be more appropriately peopled by the superstitious fancy 
of the olden time with witches, demons, and fairies than this deep, seques- 
tered, gloomy vale : nor indeed, even in the beautiful country in which it is 
situated, in which nature and art are so exquisitely blended, that the eye 
cannot discern the line which separates them, can a spot be found more 
delightful to the lover of romantic scenery." 



152 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

place of such interest to the good people of Masham 
and its many visitors, I am induced to transcribe Mr. 
Young's description of it, and insert it in this place, 
rather than attempt an account of it of my own in 
another place. 

Mr. Young says, "Hackpall, seven miles from Stud- 
ley and only two from Swinton, is laid out in a different 
style. Greatly worth the trouble of any traveller's go- 
ing many miles out of his way to view it. Entering the 
woods from Swinton, the first point of view we came to 
was a little white building by way of a seat : on the 
point of a round projecting hill, you look down upon a 
rapid stream through scattered trees which fringe the 
slope — the effect is fine. To the right is an opening 
among the trees, which lets in a most beautiful view of 
a range of hanging woods which unite to form a hollow. 
Behind, through another opening in the adjoining trees, 
you look down upon a bend of the river: Masham 
steeple, and a part of the town appearing over some 
wood that hangs to the water — nothing can be more 
sweetly picturesque, for the spot whereon the building 
stands being shaded with trees, the brightness of the 
sheet of water has the effect of a natural clear obscure, 
and the buildings seeming to rise from branches of 
wood hanging on the stream, adds greatly to the beauty 
of the scene : a white house, a little on one side, is an 
object which improves the landscape. Another view 
from this spot is to the left, a curve of the river, under 
a bank of hanging wood, scarred with rocks. From 
hence the Riding* winds on the banks of the river, and 
passing a dropping spring, rises up some slopes to an 
open octagon bench, from hence the views are truly 
elegant. To the right you look upon a bold shrubby 
hill, which has an air of grandeur that is striking. There 
is a building by way of object, raised upon it, that is 

* The Yore here forms the boundary line between the North and West 
Ridings of Yorkshire. 




PART OF A SAXON CROSS, FOUND IN A WALL 
NEAR MASHAM CHURCH. 



See p. 430. 




SCENE IN HACKFALL. 



P. 152. 



HISTOEY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 153 

called an arch, or a ruin, almost hanging over a dell of 
wood, the river peeping at one spot in a pleasing man- 
ner, and the murmur over the rocks in its bed, fills the 
ear, and gives room for the imagination to play — one 
instance, among others, how much ideal pictures are 
raised by the noise of a river foaming among Rocks, but 
hid by wood : the steeps and torrents receive a height- 
ening from the fancy which would be half-dissipated by 
viewing the reality. To the left a bend of the river is 
seen fringed with hanging woods, and above them dis- 
tant prospects. Winding from this spot through the 
grove, we came next to a rustic stone temple by the side 
of a basin with a stump of &jet d'eau in the middle of it. 
It is in a small area, a hollow in the hanging woods, re- 
tired and naturally beautiful. A little gushing fall of 
water from the bank into the basin is picturesque and 
worthy of an unguous meandering course over moss 
and pebbles. An opening in the front of this spot lets 
in a view of a scar of rocks in the middle of a bank of 
wood. Walking round the circular lawn, an opening on 
the left displays a most glorious hollow of hanging 
groves, on one side of which is seen the white seat first 
mentioned. This view is very noble. A little further 
you catch a fine circular hill of wood, and the shore of 
the river which winds at its feet : it has a magnificent 
appearance. Advancing through a whiding walk you 
come to a Grotto, from which the scene is beautifully 
picturesque. You look aslant upon a natural cascade, 
which falls in gradual sheets above forty feet in the 
midst of hanging wood ; it is quite surrounded by the 
trees, and seems to gush forth by enchantment. The 
water is clear and transparent, and throws a moving 
lustre to the eye unexpressibly elegant. The motion of 
it pleases, not only from its genuine beauty, but from 
the peculiar happiness of the situation, viewed from a 
woody retired spot, which contrasts so well the brilli- 
ancy of the object. But those touches of reality which 
exceed the utmost efforts of painting, thicken upon us : 



154 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

for leaving this agreeable spot we presently come to 
another, from whence you see a beautiful natural cascade 
gushing, to all appearance out of a cavern in the rock, 
overhung with thick wood, and falling from one crag to 
another till it loses itself among the adj oining woods. You 
move next to a bench, where you are again entertained 
by the same cascade viewed in a different direction, with 
the addition of its trickling at your feet over the grass, 
beautifully scattered with trees. Through them, in 
front, is a fine opening over a hollow of hanging woods. 
To the right, you look down through another natural 
opening among the trees, and catch the river rushing 
rapidly over the rocks. Nothing can exceed the taste, 
variety, and beauty of this landscape. Following the 
winding course of the walk we come to Fisher's Hall, a 
small octagon room built of a petrified substance upon a 
little swelling hill hi the midst of a hollow, surrounded 
by a vast amphitheatre of hanging woods. Thus is the 
outline of the picture, which is in itself fine, but the 
filling up of the canvas adds a colouring more than 
equal to that of painting. Excuse the describing, and 
always remember that J offer description but to induce 
a friend to fly to that entertainment which I have found 
so pleasing. The little hill on which this building is 
placed is covered with a thicket of trees, which makes 
the whole picturesque. The river gives a bend at your 
feet, embanked by hanging woods : the white building 
first mentioned peeping from among them in one spot, 
and a fine scar of rock in another. Under the seat the 
stream is rapid, raging over rocks, and winding away 
under walls of them covered with hills of wood. To 
the right of these objects the other hills appear in a fine 
style, one in particular, covered with shrubby wood, 
projects in a magnificent sweep that cannot but strike 
the spectator with awe. All the surrounding ones ap- 
pear from hence in fine waves, rearing thin woody tops, 
one beyond another in a style truly great. Besides 
these objects which partake so much of the sublime, 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 155 

here are others of genuine and native beauty* From 
one side of this building, you have a most pleasing pros- 
pect, consisting of two cascades divided by a projected 
grove of trees. That to the right pours down from one 
cleft of the rock to another for a considerable space, ad- 
mirably overhung with the spreading branches of the 
adjoining thick wood, which rises in sweeps around it, 
gloomy with the brownness of the shade, and contrast- 
ing the transparent brightness of the water. The other 
cascade likewise falls down an irregular bed of rock, but 
not in such strong breaks as the former ; it is seen in the 
bosom of a fine wood which fringes a rising hill upon 
the top of which is a building. Winding from this in- 
imitable scene down to the river side, and following it, 
we come to a romantic spot under a range of impending 
rocks, with shrubby wood growing out of their clefts, 
and a few goats brouzing on their very edges. You 
look back on the preceding scenes which in general ap- 
pear like a fine hollow of surrounding woods. Fisher's 
Hall, a beautiful little hill, the building crowned with a 
tuft of trees. Pursuing the road a little further (though 
without the bounds of the ornamented grounds) you 
rise with the hill, and have a view of the river broken 
into three sheets of water, divided by scattered woods 
and the banks ornamented by a straggling Village : be- 
tween the hills a distant prospect is seen. Returning, 
we took the walk that leads by Fisher's Hall and winds 
up the hill to the left. The first point you come to is a 
bench overhung with trees, from which, at your feet, 
you look down upon a beautiful cascade gushing out of a 
rock under a thicket of trees : exquisite. And to the 
right, at a little distance, another, but different: this 
scene is sequestered, and will naturally tempt the spec- 
tator to stop to admire the wild, but pleasing beauties 
of the spot. The walk winds up the hill by the side of 
a continued cascade, the water falling in small sheets 
from rock to rock in a majestic style: on one side a 
thick wood, and on the other a rocky bank fringed with 



156 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



shrubs. This leads to Kent's seat and above, from 
which the landscape is in the pure style of ornamented 
nature. If you suppose art to appear it is the simplex 
munditus of design. In front, at the distance of a few 
yards, is a double cascade, the water gushes from a dark 
spot, half rock, half wood, and falling on a bed of the 
former, has but a short course before it falls a second 
time into the rill before mentioned, which winds over a 
bed of stone at your feet. These parts of the scenery 
are surrounded by a little amphitheatre of thick wood, 
and form, upon the whole, a most beautiful picture. It 
may not be admired by those who are fond of only the 
great, but to such as are pleased with the soft tints of 
nature's pencil, this landscape will yield pure enjoyment. 
Nor is this all, for turning your eye a little to the left, 
you catch through a small, and to appearance, natural 
opening in the trees, a view of a scoop of hanging woods, 
and beyond a distant prospect, one of the most complete 
bird's-eye landscapes in the world. Continuing this 
walk you mount to the top of the hill, and there arrive 
at a spot called Mowbray- point. The building (called 
the ruin) has a little area before it, from which you com- 
mand a prodigious prospect. You look directly down 
on a fine winding valley, the river appearing in different 
sheets of water, and the roar of its rapidity heard dis- 
tinctly, though so far beneath. This valley bends round 
a projecting promontory of high land, the hanging banks 
of which, like all the others, are covered with thick 
plantations, forming upon the whole a most glorious hol- 
low of pending woods. At the bottom, besides the 
river, you see Fisher's Hall in a very picturesque situ- 
ation, and at the top of the opposite projecting hill, a 
pasture so truly elegant as to decorate the whole scene. 
The distant prospect has a great variety : to the right, it 
is unbounded except by the horizon : in front, you look 
upon the extent of Hambledon Hills at the distance of 
about twenty miles : and to the left you have inclosures 
distinctly seen for many miles. The whole vale before 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 157 

you is finely scattered with towns, villages, churches, 
seats, &c. York Minster is seen distinctly at the dis- 
tance of more than thirty miles — Roseberry Topping in 
Cleveland, as far, another way. In front you view the 
Scar in Hambledon Hills called the " White Mare " ; 
the town of Thirsk, almost under it, and Northallerton 
to the right. In the building are two neatly furnished 
rooms — one for dining, and the other by way of drawing 
room. 

" It was not without regret that I took my leave of 
Swinton and its most worthy owner : it is a family in 
which polite cheerfulness, and a manly urbanity both 
please and instruct." 

It should always be remembered in reading these 
very lucid descriptions of Mr. Young, that they were 
written by him about the year 1768, or nearly one 
hundred years ago, and that many very great changes 
have taken place within the Parish since that date. 

About fourteen years after Mr. Young's visit, another, 
but less distinguished Tourist, (a Mr. Bray) paid a visit 
to Masham, and accordingly makes mention of it in his 
" Tour of Yorkshire " which he published shortly after- 
wards. From that Tourist, we get another glimpse of 
the state and condition of the place from another point' 
of view. He says, " From Hackfall it is three miles to 
a little town called Masham, the Market-place of which 
is uncommonly spacious, built on three sides, but the 
houses so low and mean, that it has the appearance of a 
deserted place. The church is at the end of the fourth 
side, remarkably neat." 

He afterwards goes on to say that " Mr. Danby's 
improvements of the Moors, which lie behind his house 
in immense tracts, is so observable, and so worthy of 
imitation, that too much cannot be said of them. He 
has a Colliery, which employs many hands, and the 
Cottages of the Workmen are scattered about on the 
moors. Some years ago he gave leave to the cottagers 
to inclose a field contiguous to their gardens, that they 



158 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

might, if industrious, raise their own com. A few 
examples had great effects, and now there is not a collier 
without a little farm of from four to twenty acres, on 
which he keeps a cow or two, and raises corn. The 
hours of work in the colliery are few, and leave sufficient 
time for the cultivation of this land. This scheme has 
introduced a spirit of industry, in lieu of the idleness 
which used to prevail after the work of the coal-pits was 
finished for the day, and fixes the men, who before this, 
on the least disgust, used to run from one colliery to 
another." 

I cannot, however, but think that there is some exag- 
geration in Mr. Bray's description of the town of Mas- 
ham, as to its low and mean houses ; at the same time 
it reminds me of a very graphic description which I 
once heard the late William Terry give of the houses 
in Masham, as they were in olden time, in narrating 
one of the many traditions* of the place, of which he 
alone seems to have been the grand repertory. Accord- 
ing to one of these traditions, many of the houses were 
low, thatched buildings, with then" eaves nearly reach- 
ing to the ground, whilst their ridges — which were con- 
structed of green turf — mounted up to a very great 
height, so that the sheep (which were then shewn at the 
September fairs, and were much wilder and more active 
on the leg than such as are now shewn) used to take 
bounds, and leap and run upon the roofs of the houses, 
and gambol about upon them in such a very extraordi- 
nary manner as to present quite a spectacle to the gap- 
ing beholders below, and not a little bewilderment to 
their no less noisy canine companions. 

Mr. Danby married Mary the daughter of Gilbert 

* Another of William Terry's traditions was, that Cardinal Wolsey, 
when making his ostentatious Progresses into the North, used to stay all 
night in Masham, and to be lodged and entertained in the old Court-house 
there, being the house now occupied by Mr. Thomas Pullen, coachbuilder, 
and the property of the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge, 
as formerly belonging to the Prebend of Masham. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 159 

Affleck, Esq., of Dalham Hall in the county of Sussex, 
the ancestor of the present Baronet of that name. He 
died on the 8th of April, 1781, leaving his eldest son 
(the late William Danby, Esq.) his successor to the 
estates. 

William Danby, Esq., the last of fgjpj i)jjr 

the ancient family of the Danby s, was in m^ ^^jg 

his twenty-ninth year, when he thus came S^^jf|S^ 
into possession of his patrimonial Estates, I \ 

and being blessed with considerable na- jp|b/ \ J 

tural talents, which he inherited from w|^^^^^|fc/ 
both his parents, he proceeded at once ^^^^£i^^ 
to direct the whole energies of his ^^ 

vigorous mind to the carrying out of his father's projects 
for the improvement of his wide demesnes, a task, which 
it will be seen, he accomplished in an eminent degree. 

Very soon after coming to his estates, viz. in the year 
1784, he was honoured with the office of High Sheriff of 
his native county. It so happened, that in consequence 
of the then state of parties in the Commons House of 
Parliament, the treaty of peace which had just then been 
signed at the conclusion of the long, but unsuccessful 
war which this country had been engaged in with 
America (by which the United States then first acquired 
their independence) — a change of ministry and a dissolu- 
tion of Parliament — and the turmoils of an election for 
so extensive a county as Yorkshire in the midst of a 
fierce agitation for Parliamentary reform — the duties of 
his office as High Sheriff, were not only exceedingly 
onerous, but made his position one of great delicacy 
and responsibility, as will be seen by the following 
notices, calling county meetings, which were issued by 
Mr. Danby as High Sheriff, viz : 

" Having received a Requisition signed by upwards of one hundred re- 
spectable Freeholders of the County, wherein they state, ' That they had 
observed with great concern the unhappy disputes in Parliament, fomented 
by party, and agitated with such violence as not only to interrupt the na- 
tional business, but also to endanger the true principles of the constitution/ 



160 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE- 

and therefore requesting me to call a General County Meeting, for the pur- 
pose of addressing the Throne on the present alarming aspect of public 
affairs. In compliance with such requisition, I do hereby appoint a Meeting 
of the Freeholders of this County, to be held at the Castle of York, on 
Thursday the 25th of March next ensuing, at ten o'clock in the forenoon. 

William Danby, 
York, Feb. 26, 1784. Sheriff." 

A general County Meeting was accordingly held at 
York Castle at the time named in the above notice, 
which was presided over by Mr. Danby as the High 
Sheriff of the County. At this meeting the following 
address to the throne was agreed upon, apparently after 
much warm altercation and discussion, as well as a 
division. 

" To the King's most excellent Majesty : 

May it please your Majesty, we, your Majesty's dutiful and 
loyal subjects, the Freeholders of the County of York, alarmed at the pre- 
sent distracted state of public affairs, beg leave to approach your throne with 
assurances of our unfeigned and zealous attachment to your Majesty's person 
and government. 

Convinced that the very existence of our excellent constitution depends 
on the preservation of the due balance of power wisely placed in the dif- 
ferent branches of the legislature, we declare ourselves equally solicitous to 
maintain the legal prerogatives of the crown, and the just privileges of the 
two Houses of Parliament. 

We cannot too strongly reprobate the late attempt to seize the property 
and violate all the chartered rights of the East India Company, the enor- 
mous patronage of which would have produced an influence equally destruc- 
tive of the prerogative of the Crown and the liberties of the people. 

To remove Ministers who made such an attempt, we deem to be a just 
exertion of your Majesty's prerogative, and under the peculiar circumstances 
of the case, we think your Majesty acted with equal justice by retaining 
your present Ministers, until an appeal to your people could be made. Im- 
perfect as such an appeal to the constituent body must ever be, under the 
present manifold defects of our national Representation, we still conceive the 
calling of a new Parliament to be the only true constitutional measure which 
your Majesty in your royal wisdom can adopt to settle the present differ- 
ences between the several branches of the Legislature." 

The meeting having adopted the above Address to the 
Throne, it was also agreed, that it should be signed by 
Mr. Danby, the High Sheriff, as the act of the meeting, 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 161 

and that he should also be requested to present such 
address to the King. An unanimous vote of thanks was 
also passed to Mr. Danby as High Sheriff for his im- 
partial conduct in the business of the day. 

On the following day another, but a private, meeting 
of the principal gentry of the County, was held at the 
York Tavern, at which the following resolution was 
passed : 

" Resolved, that Sir R. D. Hildyard, Sir Christopher Sykes, Mr. Buck, 
Mr. Peirse, and Mr. R. S. Milnes, be deputed to wait upon the High Sheriff, 
to request him, in the name of this assembly, to call a meeting of the Free- 
holders of the County of York, to consider of two proper persons to represent 
them in the ensuing Parliament." 

The Deputation having waited upon the High Sheriff 
with the above resolution, he immediately issued the 
following notice : 

" To the Freeholders of the County of York, 
Gentlemen, 

The above Requisition having been presented to me by the Gentlemen 
deputed for that purpose, I do hereby appoint a General Meeting of the 
Freeholders of the County of York, to be held at the Castle of York, on 
Friday next, the 2nd day of April, 1784, at ten of the clock in the forenoon, 
to consider of two proper persons to represent you in the ensuing Parliament, 
as I have this day received the Writ for a new election, which will be on 
the 7th day of the same month. 

Given under my hand, this 27th day of March, 1784. 

William Danby, Sheriff." 

A County 'Meeting accordingly took place, at which 
four candidates were put in nomination to represent the 
county in Parliament, viz., Francis Ferrand Foljambe, 
Esq., William Weddell, Esq., Henry Duncombe, Esq., 
and William Wilberforce, Esq. * On a show of hands, 
however, being taken, the High Sheriff declared it to be 
in the favour of Duncombe and Wilberforce. On the 
evening before the election, which was fixed for the 7th 
April, Foljambe and Weddell declined going to the poll, 
and thus a hotly contested county election (which had 
been fully expected) was avoided, to the great delight 
of the High Sheriff. 

M 



162 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

It is needless to say, that Mr. Danby, during the 
remainder of his year of office, discharged the duties of 
the Shrievalty in as liberal and as satisfactory a manner 
as he had thus begun. His tenantry also discharged, in 
a very creditable manner, the duties then imposed upon 
the tenantry of the High Sheriff, of attending at the 
opening of the commission at each assize, well mounted, 
(on saddles the gift of the High Sheriff,) to form the caval- 
cade, which then always went to meet his Majesty's 
Judges of Assizes on their entering the City of York. 
For many a long year afterwards, these trips to York, 
the pageantry of the Shrievalty of their " Squire," and 
their own' personal doings and wonderful achievements 
on these occasions, formed the theme of the conversation 
of the old tenant-farmers of Mashamshire, when over 
their pipes and glasses. But alas ! there is not one of 
them now left — Squire and tenants alike have all passed 
away, and now lie mouldering in the dust. 

In the year 1790, Mr. Danby obtained from Parlia- 
ment " An Act for dividing and inclosing part of the 
Moors and Wastes within the Manor of Masham and 
Mashamshire, in the North Riding of the County of 
York ; " and being thus armed, he immediately set him- 
self to work, in effecting the inclosure of large tracts of 
his extensive moor-lands. By a judicious sub-division 
of such inclosures into convenient allotments — the plant- 
ing and careful rearing of a great number of plantations, 
in places and situations the best adapted for shelter, 
laying out and constructing commodious roads, and by 
skilful management generally — he not only succeeded in 
bringing the inclosures into a profitable state of cultiva- 
tion, but long before the close of his long and useful life, 
he had the great pleasure and satisfaction of seeing the 
whole face of that district of country assume a decidedly 
improved appearance, and lands, which had before been 
a drear and barren waste, become fruitful fields of grain. 

Extensive as these improvements were, and much as 
they must have occupied Mr. Danby' s attention, he found 



HISTOKY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 163 

time also to direct his attention to other improvements 
of another and different description, viz., the enlargement 
and improvement of his mansion, his park, and his plea- 
sure-grounds at Swinton. 

As to the mansion itself — when he first came into the 
possession of the estate, he found the mansion in much 
the same condition as it had been left by his great-grand- 
father, Sir Abstrupus Danby, and &s is represented in 
the drawing of it given at page 138. It was very much 
like what the old manor-houses formerly were, viz., very 
plain, and without having any pretensions whatever to 
architectural design, or correct principles of ornamenta- 
tion. It covered but a very small space of ground, and 
was three stories in height, with an unsightly turret 
window peeping out of its roof to give light to the attics. 
It presented altogether the appearance of that very useful, 
but homely article, the "tea caddy," which was, in truth, 
the name by which it was really designated. 

Such being the state and condition of Swinton Hall at 
that time, those who were at all acquainted with the 
cultivated and refined taste of Mr. Danby, will not be 
surprised to find that he was not well satisfied with it as 
a residence, and that he determined to build for himself, 
either an entirely new one, or to materially enlarge and 
improve the external appearance of the old one. His 
first thoughts were, to build a new mansion somewhere 
near to the site of the present farm-house belonging to 
the Low-Maines Farm. Had he carried out this, his ori- 
ginal design, he would certainly have selected for it the 
most charming situation within the parish, and one capa • 
ble of giving full scope to his superior skill and fertile 
genius in such matters, in the laying out of the grounds 
around it, so as to take due advantage of the rich wood- 
land scenery which everywhere presents itself in that 
locality, the extensive natural sheet of water, the Marfield 
Pond, as well as the silvery waters of the Yore, which 
there washes its verdant banks, and meanders down the 
valley beneath. It is highly probable, too, that in select- 



164 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

ing that site for his baronial residence, he would have 
chosen the very place which some ancient Lord of the 
Manor had, several hundreds of years before him, selected 
for the site of his baronial residence, or manor-house. 
The names of the High and Low-Maines are derived 
from the word "demesnes," or u demain," which means, 
lands held by the Lord of the Manor in his own hands, 
and not let out to tenants ; and as such, when found thus 
applied to a place, always gives one the idea that the 
place has at some early period been the residence of the 
great Lord of the place. He would also have selected 
the immediate vicinity of an old Koman road, and an 
ancient nunnery, the latter of which, in all probability, 
stood many hundreds of years ago, at a place still called 
by the name of "Nunneries," which adjoins Marfield, 
where some old foundations were dug up many years ago, 
when making the old Hemp Mill, and where the stone 
coffins (to be hereafter mentioned) were subsequently 
found, as well as a remarkable Well, dedicated to Saint 
Clement. Mr. Danby, however (although he retained 
to the latest period of his life, a strong partiality and 
predilection to the Low-Maines, as a very eligible and 
admirable site for a residence, and as such very fre- 
quently visited it) in the end abandoned the idea of 
removing his residence from Swinton, and determined 
upon reconstructing and modernising his old seat, which 
had for a length of time been the peaceful abode of his 
forefathers, and thus possessed charms and old associa- 
tions, which another could not by any possibility either 
possess or acquire. 

Accordingly, about the year 1790, he commenced 
building an extensive wing to his old mansion, being all 
that portion of the hall, and range of rooms and offices, 
extending towards the North, in which the present ser- 
vants' hall and other household offices, are now to be 
found; and in the year 1813, he added to it another 
extensive wing, thereby forming the fine suite of rooms 
facing the South, and terminating in a Museum, the 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 165 

depository of a valuable collection of minerals, fossils, 
and many other productions of nature, as well as some 
valuable reliques of antiquity found within the parish. 
In the centre of this suite of rooms (which is from a 
design of James Wyatt, Esq.) is the drawing-room, a 
noble apartment; and in the years 1821, 1822, 1823, 
and 1824, he erected a massive tower towards the East, 
and other castellated additions, in the Norman style of 
architecture, from the designs of Robert Lugar, Esq. ; 
these contain, together with numerous family rooms, an 
elegant Library, forty-two feet in length, and a spacious 
entrance-hall. A Western tower completes the coup d'oeil 
of the South front. 

Among the internal decorations will be found (for a 
private collection) an extensive Gallery of good Pictures, 
by Reubens, Salvator Rosa, Guercino, Snyders, Sir 
Joshua Reynolds, and Ibbotson, Richard Metcalfe and 
George Cuitt (our own native artists), and others of 
known celebrity, as also a valuable collection of books. 

The following is a catalogue of some of the principal 
Pictures, arranged in order as they are to be found in 
the several rooms. 

In the Library. 

SUBJECT. ARTIST. 

The Hard Bargain — Pandits, scholar of Rembrandt. 

Landscape — Salvator Rosa. 

Ditto Ditto. 

Kite and Fowls — Snyders, Frans. 

Landscape and Waterfall in Norway — Everdingen, Aldert Van. 

Boors at Play, &c, A Dutch Interior — Bega. 

Landscape — Ferg, Paul Francis. 

Travellers refreshing — Barentz, a scholar of Wouvermans. 

Neapolitan Gamblers — Francesco Solimine, called L' Abate Ciccio. 

A Road-side Inn — Barentz, a scholar of Wouvermans. 

The Village Doctor, A Neapolitan Group — Francesco Solimine, called 

L' Abate Ciccio. 
A Berger on Horseback — P. Wouvermans. 
Landscape — Ferg, Paul Francis. 
St. John — Sir Joshua Reynolds. 
Landscape — J. Wynants. 
An Interior, Scouring Kettles — Zorg, Hy. 



166 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

A Calm on the Coast — Cuyp, Albert. 

A Breeze — Bonaventura, Peters. 

Sea-side, with Horses, &c. — Theodore Stoop. 

Head of Himself — Armibal Caracci. 

The Repast — D. Ryckarrt. 

Head of an Old Man (a study) — Sir Joshua Reynolds. 

Three Boys' Heads — Sebastion Bourdon. 

Eleazar, the Steward of Abraham, giving the Bracelet to Rebecca — Sebas- 
tion Bourdon. 

Portrait of Shakespere — Unknown. 

Abraham and his Family on their Journey [Qy., Jacob) — John Victor, or 
Fictoor. 

Portrait of Count Zulestein — Ferdinand Bol. 

Infant Moses — Sir Joshua Reynolds. 

Portrait of Charles II. when a boy — Vandyke, Sir Anthony. 

Landscape — Claude de Loraine. 

A View in Holland, Canal, Bridge, &c. — Francis Decker. 

A Moonlight Scene, View in Holland — Arnold, Vander Neer. 

View of Caves in a Rock — Loutherbourg, Philip James De. 

View of a Lime-kiln, &c. — Ditto. 

Small Drawing-room. 

Landscape, Moonlight — Pether. 

The Virgin, Infant Child, and St. John — Sir Joshua Reynolds. 

A Cabin, Sunset effect, The Rhine, in Holland — Van der Capella. 

Portrait of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper — Sir Antonio Moor. 

Unknown Portrait — Mar in de Vos. 

The Vision of Mary Magdalen — Poelemburg, Cornelius. 

The Mountebank, or Quack Doctor — Ferg, Paul Francis. 

Interior of a Cathedral — Scholar of Steenwyck. 

Cattle in a Landscape — Paul Potter, and Herman Swanevelt. 

Lady washing her hands — Gerard Terberg. 

Children at play — after Vandyk. 

The Young Gamesters (the original in the Queen's collection) — Miss 
Cropley, from Le Nain. 

Horse and Groom, Ferry, &c. — Forr, P. (1783.) 

Holy Family — Cooregio, Antonio Allegri da. 

Portrait of Sir Abstrupus Danby (on copper) — Sir Godfrey Kneller. 

Portrait of a Divine — Vander Heist Barto. 

St. John the Evangelist — Raffaelle Sazio da Urbino. 

Grand Canal, Venice, and Church of Madonna della Salute— Canaletti, 
Antonio 

Infant Christ sleeping — Murillo, Bartolome. 

Portrait of Himself — Carlo Dolci. 

Portrait of his Son — Cuyp, Albert. 






Landscape — Gasper Poussin. 
Ditto Ditto. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 167 

Landscape, in manner of Claude — T. Hofland. 

Holy Family, S. George, and Female Saint — after Reubens. 

The Five Senses — Rothenhamer, John. 

Portrait — after Rembrandt. 

Ditto Ditto. 

Rocks, &c, in Quarry-gill, Swinton Park — T. Hofland. 

Flowers, &c, with a Centre, Madonna and Child — Seghers Vandyk, 

View in Holland — Van Goyen, John. 

Girl with Tablets — Clarke, of Naples, from Schedoni. 

Windermere Lake, Calgarth, &c. — T. Hofland. 

Landscape and Children — Julius Csesar Ibbotson. 

Ditto Ditto. 

Landscape — Boudewyns, Nicholas. 
Landscape — Claude Galee" dit de Loraine. 
The First Purchase — Collins, William. 
Landscape, a Warm Day — L. Van Bos. 
Virgin and Child — Giulio Romano. 
The Banks of a Lake or River — Salvator Rosa. 
Ulls water Lake — T. Hofland. 

Cupid with a Vase — Clarke, of Naples, from Schedoni. 
Holy Family — Sebastian Burdon. 
The Dead Christ — after Guercino, by Evans. 
The Ferry— Collins, William. 
Battle Scene — Borgognone. 
Landscape — Boudewyns. 
Cattle, &c. — Flemish School. 
View near Rome, Monte Caro — Denys, 1789. 
Landscape, round — Artois, Jacques. 
Head of Madonna — Carlo Maratti. 
Horse at Ford or Ferry ditto 

A Calm, vessel saluting, cloudy effect — Van de Velde, Wm. the younger. 
Head of an Old Woman — Rembrandt, Van Rhyn. 
Study of a Head — J. Slater. 

Landscape, with cattle drinking, &c. — Brenghel, John. 
Cattle, &c. — Flemish School. 
View of the Lake of Albano — Denys, 1789. 
Landscape, round — Artois, Jacques. 

Drawing-room. 
Farm Yard, Horses, &c. — George Morland. 
Child sleeping, inscription, " Ego dormio, sed cor meum vigittit" — after 

Vaccari, by S. Clarke, Naples, 1740. 
Portrait of a Burgomaster's Wife — Philip de Koning. 
Landscape, with cattle — Duroy. 
Overture and Duet — Verkolie, John. 
Landscape, with cattle — Duroy. 
Scene in Holland, Evening — Van de Neer. 



168 



MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



Landscape — Moncheron. 

Boys bartering — Le Nain. 

Madonna della Rosa — James Stella. 

Ascension of Virgin — Carlo Maratti. 

Imogen and Pisanio Cymbelin — H. Singleton, 1818. 

Head of a Magdalen — Elizabeth Siram, of Bologna. 

The Seven Charities — Van Helmont. 

His own Portrait — Francesco Albani. 

View of Tivoli, &c. — Domenichino. 

View of Dort (Dordrect) — S. Ruysdael. 

River Scene in Holland — J. Van Goyen. 

Boors regaling — Senave, after Ostade. 

Hagar and Ishmael with Angel, in the Desert — Francesco Mola. 

Charity — Guercino. 

Portrait of the Marqnis of Granby — Sir Joshua Reynolds. 

The Lady at her toilette — Luca Giordano. 

A Lady at work — Maas Arnold. 

Horses and figures, a group — Wouvermans, Ph. 

Landscape, with goats — Wynants and Berghem. 

A Child with flowers — Sir Joshua Reynolds. 

The Cascade at Tivoli, &c. — Vernett, Joseph. 

Boors playing at nine pins — David Teniers. 

The Village Sports — David Teniers. 

Waterscape — John Van Goyen. 

Child with a cat — Sir Joshua Reynolds. 

Children at play — Murillo, Bartolome Estevan. 

Lady with a marten cat (in the Royal Collection at Naples)— after Parme- 

giano, by S. Clarke, 1790. 
The Holy Family (Ditto)— after Raphael, by S. Clarke. 

Charity (Ditto) — after Albano, by S. Clarke. 

Landscape, with an avenue — J. Weenix. 
Italian Landscape — Gasper Poussin. 
The Dead Christ and Angels — Ludovico Caracci. 
Landscape — Van de Velt, Adrian. 
Isaac, Rebecca, and Jacob — School of Rembrandt. 
Interior of Dort Church — J. Van Nikkelen. 
The Virgin, Christ, and St. John (in the Royal Collection at Naples) — after 

Raphael, by S. Clarke. 
Charity (Ditto)— after Schedoni, by S. Clarke, 1790. 

The English Sailor (Ditto)— after Van Dyk, by Ditto, 1790. 

Virgin and Child, a saint adoring — School of Caracci. 
A Maritime Port, &c. — Claude Gelee, dit de Loraine. 
Landscape — John Van Huysum. 
Interior of Church at Antwerp — Peter Neef. 
The Ferry — Isaac Ostade. 
Winter Scene on the Rhine, in Holland— J. Brenghel. 



HISTOEY OF MASHAMSH1EE. 169 

Head of Lear (a study) — Sir Joshua Reynolds. 
Children at play — Murillo, Bartoleme Estevan. 

Dining-room. 

Portrait of Mrs. Danby Vernon Harcourt— Briggs. 

An Archduke of Austria — Reubens. 

An Archduchess of Austria — Ditto. 

Portrait of the Rev. William Holwell Carr— Evans, copy from Jackson. 

Mary Countess Harcourt — after Sir Joshua Reynolds. 

William Danby, Esq., in 1825 — Jackson, R.A. 

William Danby, Esq., in 1770, obiit 1781, set. 69— Dance. 

Mary, his wife, daughter of Gilbert Affleck, Esq., obiit 1773 — Angelica 

Kauflman 
Sir Abstrupus Danby, Knt., obiit 1727 — School of Sir Peter Lely. 
Abstrupus Danby, Esq., their son, obiit 1750., set. 70 — Ditto 
Portrait of an Academician — Frank Hals. 
George Nassau Earl of Cowper — Zoffany. 

Sir Robert Danby, Knt., Lord C. J. of the K. B., obiit 1472— Unknown. 
Thomas Went worth First Earl of Strafford — after Vandyke. 

West Tower Room. 

A Moonlight Scene — Pether. 

The Descent from the Cross, a carving in ivory, Italian — Daniel de Volterra. 

The Coast of Weymouth — Luny. 

Market-place at Middleham — Julius Caesar Ibbotson. 

View in Dartmouth Harbour — Luny. 

Lake Scene — Richard Metcalfe. 

Seaside View, with horses, &c — Theodore Stoop. 

A Train of Horses — Agasse. 

Child with flowers — Sir Joshua Reynolds. 

Billiard Hoom and Staircase. 

Distant View of Masham and the Swinton Moors — George Cuitt. 

An Interior ; scene, a cottage at Masham — Julius Caesar Ibbotson. 

Lake Windermere Ditto 

Town of Masham, with Mashamshire Volunteers Ditto. 

Lake Ullswater Ditto. 

The Woodcutters — Reinagle 

View on the Home Lake, Swinton Park — Julius Caesar Ibbotson. 

Landscape, with cattle and figures — Rysbrack and Van Blommen. 

Dead Game — Ferguson 

Swinton Moors, scene at Arnagill — Julius Caesar Ibbotson. 

Cottage Interior, Masham Ditto. 

The Root-house, Swinton pleasure grounds Ditto. 

Cows and a Herdsman — Reinagle. 

Mary Magdalen— Reubens. 



170 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

A Panther — Pietro at Rome, 1789. 

A Tiger Ditto. 

A Terrier — Reinagle. 

The Market-place at Middleham — Julius Caesar Ibbotson. 

Tlie Hall, §c. 

Portrait of Setter — Agasse. 

Portrait of a Mastiff— Halfpenny, of York. 

Cupid reclining (original in the Royal Collection at Naples) — after Sche- 

doni, by S. Clarke, Naples, 1790. 
View in Borrodale Eagle Craggs — Julius Caesar Ibbotson. 
Hen and Chickens — Pietro, Rome, 1789. 
Portraits of Sally and Rover — Denys, Rome, 1789. 
Landscape, composition — N. Berghem. 
A Lake Scene — Julius Caesar Ibbotson. 
"Waterfall and Lake — Scholar of Brughel. 
An Island, with Waterfowl — Ditto. 
Christ delivering the Keys to St. Peter — after Reubens. 
Craig Millar Castle — Julius Caesar Ibbotson. 
The Well at Masham Ditto. 

Cattle, &c, crossing a Ford— N. Berchem. 
Cupids, with a donkey — Nicol Poussin. 
A Jewish Rabbi — after Rembrandt. 
Milking Cows — Julius Caesar Ibbotson. 
The Broom Seller, Swinton village — Julius Caesar Ibbotson. 
A Peasant Girl — William Collins. 
Unknown Portrait — Holbein. 
Boy with a Lantern — after Gerard Dow. 
Utocles and the Lion — Agasse. 
A Snow Scene — Richard Metcalfe. 
A Lake Scene Ditto. 

Landscape and figures Ditto. 
Rock Scene, distant landscape — Ditto. 
The Swinton Archery Meeting. — Ditto. 
Group of Flowers in a vase — John Baptiste Mounoyer 
View of Storth Water, Swinton Park — A Swiss Artist (in body colours). 

In the Passages, fyc. 

William Danby, Esq. — Chamberlain. 

Mary, his wife, daughter of Gilbert Affleck, Esq Chamberlain. 

Mary, their daughter, afterwards Countess Harcourt — Chamberlain. 
Arthur Danby, Esq. (brother of W. Danby, Esq.) Ditto. 

Abstrupus Danby, Esq. (brother of W. Danby, Esq.) Ditto. 

Miss Elizabeth Danby, only child of the above Abstrupus Danby, Esq. 

She died unmarried, 1768. — Unknown. 
William Danby, Esq. — Opie. 



HISTOEY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 171 

Sir A bstrupus Danby, Knt., obiit 1727 (oval) — Unknown. 
Francelia, sister to ditto Ditto. 

Portrait of William Danby, Esq. — Hamilton (in crayons). 
Abstrupus Danby, Esq, -when a boy — Uunknown. 

Portrait of Catharine, daughter of John Danby, Esq., of Middleham — Do. 
Portrait of Sir Thomas Danby, Knt. — J. Carleton, 1635. 
Portrait of his Wife, Catharine, daughter of the Lord Deputy Wanders- 
ford — J. Carleton, 1635. 
Portrait of their Child— Ditto. 

In the Housekeeper's Room. 
Portrait of the two Brothers, the late Billy and Tommy Beckwith, the 
well-known blacksmiths at Masham — James D. Hay. 

In the Bath-room. 
North-east View of Fountains Abbey — Julius Caesar Ibbotson. 
South-west Ditto Ditto Ditto. 

A Train of Horses — Agasse. 

Amongst these pictures, it will be seen, there are 
many family portraits, which to the eye of an historian, 
(and especially to a local one like myself, who has been 
long studying the characters there pourtrayed) present 
an ample field for reflection : — 

" For, by dim lights, the portraits of the dead 
Have something ghastly, desolate, and dread. 
. Their buried locks still wave 
Along the canvas ; their eyes flash like dreams 

On ours, as stars within some dusky cave ; 
But death is imaged in their shadowy beams." 

As, however, I cannot dwell to particularize them, 
much less to enter into a minute description of them, I 
therefore proceed with my history. 

Mr. Danby, besides effecting the several improvements 
before described, considerably extended the Park and 
Pleasure-grounds, so as to take within their range that 
rugged and romantic ravine, Quarry-gill, with the foam- 
ing waters of the Eller rushing impetuously on in its 
winding course at the bottom of the deep glen, dashing 
from rock to rock until it empties itself into the Bourne 
a little below the bridge. 



172 



MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIEE. 



" Nature here 
"Wantons as in her prime, and plays at will 
Her virgin fancies, 
Wild above rule or art." 

And 

" Hollowly here, the gushing water sounds 
With a mysterious voice ; and one might pause 
Upon its echoes till it seemed a noise 
Of fathomless wilds where man had never walked." 

At this spot, and upon another massive rustic bridge, 
which receives the roaring cataract of the Falls of the 




QUARRY-GILL BRIDGE. 



Eller just described, Mr. Danby erected a magnificent 
bridge of polished stone, consisting of three pointed 
arches seventy feet in height, surmounted with orna- 
mental parapet walls, in the form of a rustic broken 
battlement, so as to span and connect the two opposite 






HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 173 

sides of the Gill. The construction of this bridge was 
a very formidable undertaking ; much more so, indeed, 
than would appear at first sight, in consequence of so 
much of its massive masonry being hid from the eye. It- 
was completed in the year 1822, and occupied eleven 
years in the building of it, having, as I have been told 
by Mrs. Danby Harcourt, cost Mr. Danby £11,000 in its 
construction. 

Besides stocking the Park with a number of beautiful 
deer, he also formed additional lakes, and reconstructed 
or remodelled the existing ones, so as to make them pre- 
sent a more romantic and picturesque appearance than 
they had even hitherto done, and to produce more varied 
and striking contrasts in the scenery. Near to and in 
sight of the mansion, and its mossy lawn, he preserved 
the verdant banks of the Home Lake, with its still, clear, 
silvery waters, skirted at intervals with evergreens, on 
which 

" The swan, with arched neck, 
Between her white wings mantling, proudly rows 
Her state with oary feet," 

surrounded by the deer browsing in the extensive park, 
thus presenting an appearance of stillness and repose, in 
the midst of a wide and extended prospect of the sur- 
rounding country, commanding a picturesque view of 
the Hambleton Hills and the rich vale of York in the 
distance; whilst on approaching the Great Lake, the 
more secluded Storth Water, and finally the romantic 
Quarry-gill, wild and forest-like scenery, in all its rug- 
gedness and nakedness, is made to burst on the eye. 
This he effected, in a great measure, by the peculiar 
formation of the lakes themselves, studded as they are 
with islands presenting wild and rugged banks, with bold 
projecting rocks (constructed of immense masses of stone 
brought thither for the purpose, at great labour and 
expense, from the neighbouring moors) and overhanging 
trees, with here and there cascades falling over pending 
rocks, and rustic bridges constructed of huge rouo-h 



174 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

stones apparently thrown together as if by accident, 
rather than design — the whole being closely hemmed in 
and darkened by thickly wooded plantations of forest 
trees, so as to overhang and shnt out of view all sur- 
rounding objects. These, with the quiet stillness of the 
place, and the absence of all sounds except the gurgling 
of the waterfalls, and the warblings of the feathered 
inhabitants of the woods, produce on the mind a deep 
sense of solitude and seclusion, with^ at the same time, a 
feeling of awe and admiration — a feeling which continues 
to increase upon us, until we reach Quarry-gill itself. 

The tourist having thus by devious paths reached 
Quarry-gill, he then climbs up, as well as he can, one side 
of the ravine, when he reaches a small rustic structure, 
in the shape of a niche, which bears this inscription : — 
"This Seat, overlooking some of the beautiful 
works of the Creator, was built with a grateful 
mind by William Danby, Esq., a.d. 1832," and pos- 
sesses the additional interest of its being the last work 
which Mr. Danby did in the way of improvements. 
From this point he will have an extensive panoramic 
view of the vast expanse of country which there presents 
itself before him, extending from the Western moorlands 
of Mashamshire on the one hand, to the rich vale of 
Mowbray and the range of Howardian hills on the other, 
with the Bourne running rippling along its pebbled bank 
at the bottom of the deep valley beneath. The undu- 
lating character of the country — the winding of the 
Bourne in its course down the valley — and the ever- 
varying tints and hues of the great diversity of timber 
trees, and especially the plantations of Scotch firs, larch, 
and the spruce, in endless variety and in rich and luxu- 
riant foliage, which crown the acclivities, as well as 
clothe the banks of the river, render the scene not only 
exceedingly picturesque, but truly magnificent and im- 
posing. Here 

" Cultured slopes, 
Wild tracts of forest ground, and scatter'd groves, 






HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 



175 



And mountains bare, or clothed with ancient woods, 
Surround us " 

" Here groves arranged in various order rise, 
And bend their quivering summits to the skies : 
The regal oak, high o'er the circling shade, 
Exalts the hoary honours of his head ; 
The spreading ash a different green displays, 
And the smooth asp in soothing whispers plays : 
The fir, that blooms in Spring's eternal prime, 
The spiry poplar, and the stately lime. 
Here moss-clad walks, and lawns of lively green, 
United form one nicely-varying scene : 
The varying scene still charms the attentive sight, 
Or brown with shades, or opening into light." 




VIEW IN ARNAGILL. 



I may, however, truly say, what has already been said 
upon the subject by an abler pen than mine, that Ui '+ * c 



it is 



176 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

difficult, by description, to do justice to the beauties 
which are here developed, as the visitor wanders through 
the ever- varying and enchanting scenery of the park and 
grounds belonging to this delightful residence. Art has 
been here so judiciously brought to the assistance of, and 
is so blended with nature, that it can nowhere be detected 
as intrusive." 

" Here might contemplation imp 
Her eagle plumes ! The poet here might hold 
Sweet converse with the muse ! The curious sage, 
Who comments on great nature's ample tome, 
Might find that volume here ; for here are caves, 
Where rise those gurgling rills, that sing the song 
Which contemplation loves. Here shadowy glades, 
Where, through the tremulous foliage, darts the ray 
That gilds the poet's day-dream!" 

Although the natural bent of Mr. Danby's mind and 
disposition was ever towards peace, and the peaceful arts, 
it will be seen presently that when the necessity arose 
for it, he was not only ready but willing to draw the 
sword in defence of his country. It will be remembered 
that during the French war, in which this country was 
unfortunately involved, the great Napoleon not only 
threatened to invade England, but actually took steps for 
carrying his threat into execution. Such, too, was his 
confidence of success, that he actually had medals struck 
(by way of anticipation), to commemorate the event. 
This threat of invasion so aroused the spirit of the coun- 
try, that Volunteer corps were raised throughout the 
length and breadth of the land, for the defence of their 
homes. The men of Mashamshire, whose ancestors had 
fought and shed their blood on many a battle-field in 
their country's cause, were not by any means the last to 
come forward and enrol themselves amongst the defenders 
of their country, having for their leaders Mr. Danby and 
Timothy Hutton, Esq., of Clifton Castle. Within the 
parish of Masham alone, such was the spirit which then 
actuated the people, that they raised a corps of upwards 
of 100 men, and each man not only provided at his own 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 177 

cost his own uniform, but also his accoutrements (a fact 
which ought to put the present generation to the blush). 
Neither were they the less spirited in their endeavours 
to learn their exercise, and to fit themselves for active 
service in the field should such be required. In the year 
1804, the Mashamshire Volunteers, as well as the Loyal 
Dales, and other Volunteer corps in this neighbourhood, 
were called up for permanent duty at Richmond. The 
call was cheerfully responded to by both officers and 
men, by their leaving their homes and their business at 
their country's call, and for their country's weal, and 
devoting themselves for several days to learning the bat- 
talion exercise. 

I have reason to know that the time of the stay of the 
Volunteers in Richmond was a very profitable one to the 
fair "practieers at the bar" of the several inns of the 
ancient borough of Richmond! Often did those places 
re-echo to " The Song of the Mashamshire Volunteers," 
to the tune "With a Rodney we will go," sung con voce 
fortissimo etfuoco. 

" We Volunteers of Masham, our clothing is of red, 
And if we meet the Frenchmen we'll make them us to dread ; 
Our clothing is of red, my boys, and turned up with black, 
But if we meet those French boys we'll make their bones to crack. 
And with Danby we will go, will go, 

With Danby we will go ; 
For Hutton is a soldier's friend, 
And that we all do know." &c, &c, &c. 

Big words are these, certainly; and they were very 
shortly afterwards almost put to the test, and weighed 
in the balance, and not found wanting, as will be seen 
presently. 

Immediately after the assembly of the Volunteers at 
Richmond, it was discovered that the Dales lads (or 
Havre- cake-lads, as they were called,) had been so long 
accustomed to hearing themselves called by nicknames, 
that they had actually forgotten the names which "their 
Godfathers and Godmothers had given to them in bap- 

N 



178 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



tism," and were consequently unable to answer to their 
names when called from the muster-roll of the Regiment, 
and that the greatest confusion was caused on account of 
it. To remedy this evil, the Commandant of the Regi- 
ment was obliged to have a new muster-roll made, framed 
so as to give the names of the men in a manner that was 
intelligible to the men themselves. Accordingly, the 
following names are to be found in the muster-rolls (as 
amended) of the companies of the Loyal Dales Volun- 
teers, which were under the command of Captain Met- 
calfe* and Captain Stewart on that occasion. 

Thomas Alderson, Grain Tom. 

Glowremour Tom. 
Poddish Tom. 
Tarry Tom. 
Tish Tom. 
Tripy Tom. 
Trooper Tom. 

Butter Geordie. 

Bowlaway. 

Brownsa Jossy. 

Cis Will. 

Cotty Joe. 

Codgy. 

Cwoaty Jack. 

Curly. 



Assy Will Bill. 
Ayny Jack. 
Aygill Tom Bill. 
Becka Jack. 
Brag Tom. 
Bullet. 

Bullock Jammie. 
Buck Reuben. 




METCALFE. 

* The Metcalfes were very numerous in the Dales, as well as in Masham- 
shire. It is recorded that in 1556, Sir Christopher Metcalfe, being High 
Sheriff of Yorkshire, met the Judges of Assize, attended by three hundred 
horsemen, all of his own family and name, mounted on white horses, and 
clad in uniform habits. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSRTRE. 179 

Dicky Tom Johnny. Mark Jammie Joss. 

Docken Jammie. Moor Close Gwodie. 

Dant. Nettlebed Anty. 

Freestane Jack. Peter Tom Willy. 

Gudgeon Tom. Peed Jack. 

Hed Jack. Piper Ralph. 

John Hird, Awd John. Pullan Will. 

. . Young John. Robert Will Peg Sam. 

Jain's Jack. Rive-Rags. 

. . Mary Jack. Skeb-Symy. 

. . King Jack. Slipe. 

Katy Tom Alick. Slodder. 

Kitty Puke Jock. Swinny. 

Kanah Bill. Spletmeat. 

Knocky Gwordie. Strudgeon Will. 

Lollock Ann Will. Tash. 

Matty Jwoan Ned. Tazzy Will. 

It must have been exceedingly amusing to a stranger 
to hear the muster-rolls called on parade, and one can 
hardly imagine the strictest disciplinarian of a sergeant 
calling out "Rive -Rags," or " Skeb-Symy," without 
breaking out into a laugh, subversive of all ideas of the 
gravity of authority. Nicknames, however, such as these, 
were not by any means uncommon at this time, even in 
our own parish, and amongst our own Volunteers. 

The Mashamshire Volunteers were a fine body of men. 
The town and parish were then in a very flourishing 
condition, and plenty of money was astir, so that the 
men were thriving, and in high spirits, and being proud 
of Mr. Danby and Mr. Hutton as their Captains and 
leaders (a feeling which was as heartily reciprocated by 
those very worthy gentlemen), hence their great success. 
As long as Masham stands, it will ever be a matter of 
congratulation and pride, that at such a crisis, such a 
body of men, and so efficient, should have been raised in 
it for the defence of their common country when threat- 
ened by a foreign foe. 

Early one morning, the people of Masham were aroused 
by the ringing of the bells, the beat of drums, and the 
call, u To arms — to arms." News ran like wildfire that 



180 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIEE. 

the Beacon-fires were lit up, and that the French were 
coming. Presently Mr. Danby and Mr. Hutton were 
seen bustling about the town, and the men under arms 
and in marching order. The baggage waggons were got 
ready as by a magic spell, and all were soon on march 
towards the eastern coast, ready to give the enemy a 
meeting on his attempting a landing on our shores. 
Great was the consternation which prevailed in Masham 
on that memorable morning. It would be a very easy 
task to indulge in a little fine sentimental writing on the 
sayings and doings of "sweethearts and wives" on that 
occasion, but it would be ungenerous, nay, unmanly and 
wrong, thus to attempt to cast ridicule upon the gentle 
sex when placed under such trying circumstances. They 
only obeyed the promptings of their finer nature and 
susceptibilities, which it would have been unnatural in 
them to have resisted. The men, however, acted nobly 
and heroically, and bravely responded to the call of duty, 
every man in the corps falling into the ranks, and march- 
ing away, resolved "to do or die" in his country's cause, 
still not forgetting "the lass he left behind him." 

The gallant fellows, however, on reaching Thirsk, dis- 
covered that there was no enemy for them to face, the 
Beacon-fires having been lit up by mistake, the Warden 
of the Beacon on Penhill having mistaken an accidental 
fire on the eastern hills for the Beacon on Roseberry- 
Topping. A halt was therefore called, to enable the men 
to obtain some refreshment before returning home again. 
Unfortunately the apostles of temperance had not at that 
day set out on their disinterested and philanthropic mis- 
sion, and the mad fanaticism and excesses of the Puritans 
(which had produced a revulsion of feeling amongst the 
people) had by this time degenerated into a perfect indif- 
ference to all religion whatever, and its ministrations 
into a barren formality, so that it was not then considered 
a reproach to a man, and still less to a gentleman, to 
indulge too freely in intoxicating drinks. This license 
which the spirit of the times gave them, was on this 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 181 

occasion, I am sorry to say, carried to its fullest extent 
by the men of Mashamshire. They managed, however, 
to return to their respective homes with whole skins, and, 
if not crowned with laurels, with unsullied honour, to 
the great relief of "the sweethearts and wives" aforesaid. 

The Mashamshire Volunteers were not alone in being 
thus deceived by the lighting-up of the Beacon-fires. 
The Loyal Dales Volunteers were also in like manner, 
and under like circumstances, mustered, and were under 
arms some hours before the mistake was discovered, 
when they were also dismissed to their homes. 

Tidings of the gallant conduct thus displayed by the 
Mashamshire, and the Loyal Dales Volunteers, having 
attracted the attention of Parliament, Sir Henry Mild- 
may, on the 11th July, 1806, in moving pursuant to 
notice, a vote of thanks to the Volunteers generally (as 
reported in the Parliamentary Debates of the House of 
Commons of that date), called the attention of the house 
to the merits, the services, the zeal and perseverance of 
the Volunteers of the United Kingdom, and said he had 
no hesitation in saying that it was the full conviction on 
his mind, that it was to them that the country was 
indebted for its security when threatened by invasion. 
Besides the general ardour which gentlemen from every 
county might bear testimony to, there were some parti- 
cular instances of their promptitude and alacrity in the 
course of the last year. On an alarm of invasion on the 
coasts of Yorkshire, the Volunteers of the neighbouring 
districts (referring especially to the Mashamshire and 
the Dales Volunteers) pressed forward, with that ardour 
and zeal which the country had a right to expect from 
them, &c, &c. ; and concluded by moving "That this 
House doth thankfully acknowledge, and highly approve 
of, the different corps of Yeomanry and Volunteers of 
the United Kingdom; and doth think it necessary to 
record its decided opinion, that the due encouragement 
of the zeal and patriotism which the Yeomanry and 
Volunteers have so eminently displayed in the main- 



182 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIKE. 

tenance of their establishment, and the preservation of 
their discipline, would contribute, in an essential degree, 
to the defence and internal security of the country." 
This motion, having been seconded by Mr. Dent, was, 
after some discussion, carried. A similar resolution was 
also carried in the House of Lords. 

At the conclusion of peace, the Mashamshire corps 
was broken up, when Mr. Danby, with a liberality which 
was highly creditable to him, gave up the muskets, which 
he had bought with his own money for the men, to be 
sold and the money to be applied for the benefit of the 
Free School at Masham. The amount thus realised by 
their sale, together with £100 added to it by him, was 
afterwards invested in the purchase of £232 2s. 6d., 
three - and -a- half per cent. Consols, for the use of the 
schoolmaster, who, as such, has received the interest of 
it to this day as a part of his annual stipend. If this 
was not a beating of swords into ploughshares, it was 
even better, for it was a turning of weapons designed 
and intended for the destruction of their fellow-men, into 
instruments for the imparting of instruction to the rising 
generation, in the arts of peace, virtue, and religion. 

I would here pause for a moment to allude to a circum- 
stance which at this time occurred, and very injuriously 
affected the prosperity and well-being of the town of 
Masham. I refer to the total destruction by fire of the 
mill at Burton, which had existed there as a corn-mill, 
a worsted-mill, and a flax-mill, from the time of Roger 
de Mowbray.* This untoward event occurred on Friday, 
the 1st of December, 1820 — the fire, which was acciden- 
tal, having been first discovered about three o'clock that 
afternoon. The effect of this fire was to throw a great 
number of hands out of work, and for awhile to affect 
the trade of the place. The mill, however, was shortly 
afterwards rebuilt upon a more extensive scale, and 

* See ante p. 44, where allusion is made to the grant by Roger de Mow- 
bray to John, son of Drin, who had liberty to make this mill, and to fasten 
a stagtium or mill- pool. 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 183 

afforded employment for a great number of workmen for 
many years, viz., until about the year 1841 or 1842, 
when it ceased to be worked, and was shortly afterwards 
pulled down to the ground. 

This unfortunate occurrence was followed shortly 
afterwards by a very great flood of the River Yore, which 
happened on the 2nd of February, 1822, and. not only 
did great damage to Masham bridge, but caused great de- 
struction to a vast amount of property. There had not 
been such a flood since the 2nd of February, 1722-23 
(a period of exactly ninety years) when the bridges 
at Masham and Tanfield were broken down by it, as 
stated at page 63 ante. 

But to return to my account of Mr. Danby, whom I 
left immediately after the disbanding of the old Mas- 
hamshire Volunteers. 

Mr. Danby was throughout his long life a great bene- 
factor to the town and parish of Masham. He did much 
from time to time towards the restoration and improve- 
ment of the Church. He paid nearly the whole expense 
of repairing the steeple on its being blown down by a 
great wind ; also of the erection of the galleries in the 
church. He was at the sole expense of the organ, and 
of the endowment of £30 a-year to be paid to the or- 
ganist. He also (with the assistance of £450 contri- 
buted for the purpose by the late Mr. Wm. Heslington, 
a retired tradesman of Masham) built the School and 
schoolmaster's house at Kell-bank, and endowed it with 
its present stipend for the master. Besides which his 
contributions to both public and private charities were 
without bound or stint. Their full extent, however, is 
unknown, for he did good as it were by stealth. 

Besides possessing these good and amiable qualities, 
he was at once an accomplished scholar, and the gentle- 
man — his mind being richly stored with the best classic 
literature, he was ever ready with an apt quotation from 
the best and most approved authors, on any subject 
which might chance to arise in the course of conversa- 



184 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

tion. When pointing out to his visitors his choice col- 
lection of paintings and works of art (in which he took 
great delight) his descriptions of them were not only 
most lucid, but, at the same time, evinced the taste and 
judgment of a well-informed connoisseur. His know- 
ledge of the sciences, of geology, and mineralogy, as 
displayed in his descriptions of the many specimens he 
had collected together in his well-stored museum, was, 
for the age in which he lived, extensive. He also pos- 
sessed a thorough knowledge of the "divine art of music," 
and was well acquainted with its many intricacies, and 
the laws of thorough-bass and counterpoint. His musi- 
cal library contained the works of the most eminent 
masters, as well as a choice collection of classical con- 
certed music. He possessed a complete set of well- toned 
stringed instruments by the most approved makers, for 
the use of himself and such of his musical friends who 
were in the habit of visiting him. He was an excellent 
performer on the violoncello, on which he played with 
exquisite taste and sound judgment. Possessing such a 
taste, it was, as might well be conceived, his greatest 
pleasure and delight to get around him such friends as 
could take their parts, and acquit themselves with credit, 
in a concerted piece of music. In such society, and so 
employed, he verily revelled, and, what is still better, he 
loved to see others enjoy themselves as well as himself. 

Besides being the author of several fugitive pieces of 
literature, he wrote and published the following works, 
the titles of which I give from the catalogue of them in 
the British Museum. 

1. — Thoughts chiefly on serious subjects, 8vo. Exe- 
ter, 1821. 

2. — Thoughts chiefly on serious subjects, with re- 
marks on " Lacon," [By C. C. Cotton]. Second edition 
with additions, 2 vols., 8vo. Exeter, 1822. 

3. — Ideas and Kealities, or thoughts on various sub- 
jects, 8vo. Exeter, 1827. 

4. — Extracts from, and Observations on, Cicero's 






HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 185 

Dialogues de Senectute and de amicitia, and a Translation 
of his Somnium Scipionis, with Notes by W. D., etc. 
1829, 8vo. 

5. — The Somnium Scipionis of Cicero, and an Eng- 
lish Translation of it with Notes, etc., by W. D., 8vo. 
1829. 

6. — Thoughts on various subjects, 8vo. London, 1831. 

7. — Extracts from, and Observations on, Cicero's Dia- 
logues de Senectute, &c, by W. D., 8vo. 1832. 

I cannot conclude this account of Mr. Danby's life 
better, than by quoting the concluding portion of the in- 
scription inscribed upon the monument erected to his 
memory in Masham Church. It says that " He united 
considerable natural talents with various and elegant 
accomplishments, and whilst he devoted much leisure to 
the study and imitation of eminent writers in many 
languages, the book which he best loved to study was 
the great book of nature, wherein he clearly read, and 
with a thankful heart acknowledged, the power and good- 
ness of its author. Thus endowed with the best 
gifts and qualities of this world, he forgot not the things 
pertaining to his Salvation, and the life of the world to 
come. And as he descended into the vale of years,, 
and drew nearer and nearer to his God, he was enlight- 
ened with clearer views of Divine love ; and amidst the 
sinkings of decaying nature he placed his firm, though 
trembling, trust in the cross of his redeemer." 

He died on the 4th of December, 1833, in the 82nd 
year of his age, and was buried in the family burial- 
vault in Masham Church on the 13th of the same month,, 
when he was followed to the grave by the tears of a 
numerous and devoted tenantry, and especially of the 
poor, to whom he had ever been a kind and sympathising 
friend. 

O fairest pattern to a falling age, 
Whose public virtue knew no party rage r 
Whose private name all titles recommend, 
The pious son, fond husband, faithful friend. 



186 MASHAM AND MASHAMSH1RE. 

In manners plain, in sense alone refined : 

Good without show, and without weakness kind. 

To reason's equal dictates ever true ; 

Calm to resolve, and constant to pursue ; 

In life with every social grace adorned, 

In death, by friendship, honour, virtue, mourned. 



—Pope. 



He was succeeded in his estates by his widow, Anne 
Hoi well Danby, now (1863) the wife of Admiral Octa- 
vius Vernon Harcourt, to whom he devised them by 
his Will for her life. 

This brings me to the most difficult, as it is the most 
delicate part of my task, for it is ever a most difficult 
and delicate thing for an author to write an account of 
the doings of living persons. I would not willingly do 
an injustice to the present owners of Mashamshire, by 
withholding anything which may redound to their credit, 
and for which they are justly entitled to receive the ho- 
mage due from a grateful people : at the same time I 
owe it to my own character not to indulge in any com- 
ments or observations, which may subject me even to 
the suspicion of being guilty of an attempt at flattery, 
or as it is more significantly termed, " toadyism," a thing 
which I from my heart do utterly abominate. In order 
to avoid this, it is my intention to confine myself as much 
as possible to a plain statement of facts only, and to leave 
my readers to form their own conclusions upon them. 

Under ordinary circumstances, when an estate falls to 
a tenant for life, as it was hi this instance, it is to be 
expected that a person placed in such a position, and 
having no further interest in the estate, than for his or 
her own life, will do as little as possible for the improve- 
ment of the property, the advancement of the prosperity 
of the place, or the interests of its inhabitants. If, how- 
ever, such expectations were ever formed as to this 
parish, they have been far from being realised. Had the 
present possessors of the estate been the owners of the 
fee simple itself, and been able to have handed it down 
to a member of their own family, they could not well 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 187 

have done more for it than they have done. The interest 
they have ever taken in the parish, and in the welfare of 
the people in it, could not have been greater than it has 
been, as has been proved by their unbounded liberality 
to all its institutions and charities ever since they came 
into possession of the estate. Nay more, whenever it 
shall please the Almighty to call them hence, they will 
leave behind them substantial proofs of their connection 
with the parish, and the interest they have taken in it, 
in the shape of a handsome new Church and parsonage 
at Healey ; in twelve almshouses, and a school and school- . 
house at Masham ; all of which they have not only built, 
but liberally and amply endowed; besides having con- 
tributed very largely to the restoration and beautifying 
of the church, and the improvement of both the grammar 
and free-schools. 

Admiral Harcourt (the present Lord of Mashamshire) 
was a younger son of Dr. Edward Vernon, late Arch- 
bishop of York, who took the surname of Harcourt by 
Royal sign manual, in January, 1831, on his coming to 
the estates of the last Earl Harcourt. The Admiral 
was born on the 26th of December, 1793, and when 
very young adopted the naval service for his profession. 
Owing to the lengthened peace which then happily pre- 
vailed, he never had an opportunity of distinguishing 
himself in naval enterprises; he, however, served his 
country not the less faithfully and efficiently, in survey- 
ing the coasts of California, and in other similar peaceful 
pursuits. On the 22nd of February, 1838, he married 
Mrs. Danby, the then Lady of the Manor of Masham 
and Mashamshire, when he came to reside at Swinton 
Park. Yery soon afterwards he was placed on the com- 
mission of the peace for both the North and the West 
Ridings of Yorkshire, and then became an active magis- 
trate for this district, and so continued until the year 
1856, when he was overtaken by his present sickness. 
In his magisterial capacity, he was remarkable for great 
painstaking, and for evincing considerable tact and dis- 



188 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSIIIRE. 



cernment in arriving at the truth, in the several cases 
brought before him ; and when called upon to put into 
execution the correctional arm of the law, he ever tem- 
pered mercy with justice. 

In the year 1848 he was appointed to the office of 
High Sheriff of the County of York, when I had the 
honour of acting as his Deputy Sheriff, Seal-keeper, 
and County-clerk. He discharged the duties of his 
office in a highly satisfactory manner, fully maintaining 
the dignity of the office by his gentlemanly bearing, and 
a liberal hospitality. The duties of the Shrievalty were, 




HEMAINS OF THE OLD CHAPEL AT HIGH BURTON (DESTROYED SOME YEARS AGO). 

however, unusually light during his year of office, and 
the pageantry and show on the occasions of the High 
Sheriff going to meet the Judges of Assize, which had 
existed in the late Mr. Danby's time, had, in the mean- 
time, been materially reduced by dispensing with the 
attendance on those occasions, of the High Sheriff's 
tenantry to form the cavalcade. Still, however, there 
was scope and verge enough left in order to make, not 
only a very respectable but imposing display, an oppor- 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 



189 



tunity which was not by any means neglected, so that 
his Shrievalty did not suffer by its being contrasted 
with that of any other High Sheriff in modern times. 

I have already alluded more than once, to the build- 
ing, by Admiral and Mrs. Danby Harcourt, of the 
Church at Healey; I mention it again in order, not only 
to give the reasons which prompted them to it, but also, 
for the purpose of giving a description of the Church, 
and of its consecration. Previous to the Reformation, 




ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, HEALEY, NEAR MASHAM. 



the western portion of this parish had the opportunity 
of hearing divine service at the chapels which then ex- 
isted at Leigh ton, Ellington, and Fearby, whilst such 
as lived on the opposite side of the river, could hear 
mass at the chapels at Aldborough- Grange, Low Bur- 
ton, and High Burton. The dissolution of the Monas- 
teries however, amongst other evils, swept these and 
other chapels away, so that the people were unable to 



190 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

attend any place of worship, except the Parish Church, 
which laid at a considerable distance from many parts of 
this wide parish. The consequence was, that many of 
the parishioners were either unable to attend a place of 
worship at all, or were driven to attend the chapels of 
the Dissenters, which were brought to their very doors. 
It was in order to remedy this evil, that they determined 
upon the building of Healey Church. 

The design of the church is from the pencil of E. B. 
Lamb, Esq., of 26, Charlotte Street, Portland Place, 
London, a gentleman of some eminence as an architect, 
and the author of a very excellent Treatise on Archi- 
tecture. The church is of the Gothic style of architec- 
ture,* of the decorative character, having a small lantern 
in the centre, and a well proportioned spire, which pro- 
duce a very good effect, and form a very beautiful and 
interesting object in the surrounding landscape. It is 
admirably adapted to its situation, standing as it does 
upon an eminence commanding a view of a richly wooded 
and fertile vale below. 

The design of the church is thus spoken of in the 
"Athenaeum" of the 16th of May, 1846, on the occasion 
of its being first exhibited at the Eoyal Academy in 
London. " It is a meritorious exception from the office 
and drawing-board school of architecture on the one 
hand, and the ultra-rigid precedent school on the other. 
It reproaches many of the noble newspaper paraded 
churches whose praises seemed to be penned not so much 
in the spirit of carnal criticism as with a Dr. Cantwell 
lifting up the eyes. We have here evidence of fertility 
of conception, and working of mind. There is something 
equally original and happy in the idea of the small cen- 
tral lantern and spire for which let those who will, ask 
for precedent — it being enough for us that precedent 
may be derived from them." The general effect of the 
church is very much enhanced by three painted glass 
windows. The East Window was painted by, and was 
the gift of, an amateur (the late Sir Robert Erankland 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 191 

Russell, Bart. ) In the upper part of it are introduced 
emblems of the four Evangelists, and underneath are 
the figures of Faith — the Belief — Moses presenting 
the Ten Commandments — and also the Paschal Lamb, 
and the Pelican feeding its young — the whole being 
richly ornamented. The West-window was painted by 
the architect himself, and was the gift of Mrs. Danby 
Vernon Harcourt. Besides containing the armorial 
bearings and crests of Admiral Harcourt, the founder, 
it has in the centre two large figures of St. Paul the 
Apostle (the patron Saint of the church), and St. John 
the Evangelist, and is also richly ornamented. The 
North- window presents the Royal crown and the letters 
Y.R. — the date of the erection of the church — with the 
monogram of" the architect, by whom it was painted and 
presented. The open roof, the stalls, the pulpit, the 
reading desk, the screen, and the communion table, are 
all constructed of English oak, in a very substantial but 
ornamental style, and in good keeping with the remain- 
der of the building. The total cost to Admiral Harcourt 
was, I believe, not much short of £2000. 

The church was consecrated by the Right Rev. Dr. 
Longley, then Bishop of Ripon, assisted by the Yery 
Rev. D. Erskine, then Dean of Ripon, and about twenty 
of the neighbouring clergy. The Bishop and the Dean 
of Ripon officiated at the communion table, and the late 
Rev. Thomas Riddell, M.A., the Vicar of the Parish, 
at the reading desk. The Bishop preached an excellent 
sermon on the occasion from 3 Coloss., 2nd. verse, "Set 
your affection on things above, not on things on the 
earth." Admiral Harcourt endowed the church with a 
stipend which has been since augmented. He has also 
built an excellent Parsonage-house to it at a cost of £600. 

As I have already shewn, Healey is now constituted 
a separate and distinct Parish for ecclesiastical purposes, 
having defined limits as hereinbefore described. It is in 
the patronage of the Vicar of Masham for the time be- 
ing, and is of the value of £152 per annum. The Rev. 



192 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

John Abraham Carter Swire, M.A., is the present 
incumbent. 

In the years 1856 and 1858, the public charities of 
the Parish received a very important, and useful, ad- 
dition, through the liberality and kindness of Admiral 
and Mrs. Dan by Yernon Harcourt, in the shape of 
twelve neat and commodious Almshouses, and a charity 
School. In the former year six of the Almshouses were 
built by, and at the expense of, Mrs. Harcourt, who at 
the same time endowed them with £2650 three per cent. 
Consols, which she transferred into the names of the 
trustees of the charity, in order to enable them to carry 
out its object, by the payment of five shillings a week to 
each occupier of such six Almshouses. She also in the 
same year built a School-room and Residence for the 
Schoolmistress, for the purpose of the gratuitous instruc- 
tion therein of twelve girls. She at the same time en- 
dowed the School with £666 13.s. Ad. three per cent. 
Consols, which she in like manner transferred into the 
names of the trustees of the charity, to enable them to 
pay the salary of the schoolmistress, and to defray the 
expense of the clothing of the twelve girls required to 
be instructed therein. And in the latter year (1858), 
six additional Almshouses were in like manner built by, 
and at the expense of, Admiral Harcourt, who at the 
same time endowed them with £1775 three per cent. 
Consols, which he transferred into the names of the 
trustees of the charity, to enable them, out of the divi- 
dends thereof, to pay to each occupier of such six Alms- 
houses, five shillings a week. 

The institution of charities such as these, although 
once so common, are but too rare in this mammon-loving 
age — a circumstance which to my mind presents a mel- 
ancholy proof of a sad falling off in this country in some 
of the very essentials of true vital religion, namely the 
practice of almsgiving and good works. We have it 
continually dinned in our ears that " man is justified by 
faith"; but how seldom are we told that "faith without 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 193 

works is dead," or that "by works a man is justified, not 
by faith only," or the duty or necessity of alms-giving 
enforced from our pulpits; and still less do we see it 
practised even by those who are the loudest and the 
foremost to make great professions, and an outward show 
of religion. The spirit of the teaching and practice of 
the present age seems to be, that Christ is to do all for 
man, and that man is to do nothing, — to practice no 
self-denial, — and to make no sacrifices, for Christ, which 
is as contrary to the plain precepts of Holy Writ as 
light is from darkness. In former days this was not so, 
for then men, out of the abundance of their love 'for the 
Gospel, gave largely of their substance to the cause of 
Christ, for the extension of his kingdom, and the ad- 
vancement of his glory, and that to the extent of impo- 
verishing themselves and their offspring. This they did, 
not for vain-glory, or to secure the praise of their fellow- 
men, well knowing that God, the searcher of hearts, 
knew full well what were the feelings that prompted 
them to such actions; neither did they practise these 
good works thinking thereby to purchase Heaven, as has 
been erroneously and illnaturedly imputed to them. 
Such was not their belief, they being but too conscious 
that Heaven was not to be gained by anything poor sin- 
ful mortals like themselves could do, but that on the 
contrary, they were saved by grace and not of themselves, 
and the practice of such virtues was the result of the 
promptings of the faith which was in them, and the fruits 
of a holy living. I must confess that 

" There's something in that ancient superstition, 
Which, erring as it is, our fancy loves." 

This, however, may be said in favour of the teaching and 
practice of the professors of religion of the present day, 
that it has this advantage over the old, of being a cheap 
way of gaining Heaven, a consideration not to be over- 
looked in these degenerate times, when the acquisition 
and hoarding of wealth are regarded as the summum 
bonum of earthly happiness. 



194 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIKE. 

On the 27th August, 1848, another institution, of a 
very different character to those just described, was 
founded in Masham. I refer to the formation and estab- 
lishment of the Masham Mechanics' Institute — an insti- 
tution, in my opinion, second to none in importance, in a 
place so situate and circumstanced as Masham is. I was 
greatly interested in it at the time, and took an active 
part in its formation and establishment. As soon as its 
nature and object was understood, it became generally 
appreciated, and proved a great success. It has already 
been of great service to many, although, I must confess 
it has not as yet accomplished all the good which I 
had anticipated. The objects aimed at by it were, the 
establishment of a comfortable reading-room, well sup- 
plied with newspapers, periodicals, and suitable books, to 
which the young men in the town might resort in an 
evening, in preference to spending their time at the street 
corners, or at the alehouses ; of classes, at which they 
might be instructed in useful branches of knowledge : of 
a library of carefully selected works, suitable for their 
reading at their own homes : and of a series of popular 
and instructive lectures, such as would be interesting to 
all its members. The project was much approved of, 
and being supported by liberal contributions from Admi- 
ral and Mrs. Danby Vernon Harcourt, Timothy Hutton, 
Esq., and others, it was brought into full operation. The 
Rev. Thomas Riddell, M. A., the then vicar of Masham, 
accepted the office of President, an office which he conti- 
nued to occupy with great advantage to the institution, 
and no little satisfaction and pleasure to himself, down 
to the time of his death in 1855. During the whole 
time of the presidentship of Mr. Riddell, the institution 
carried out the several objects for which it was founded 
to the fullest extent, under the immediate superinten- 
dence of Mr. Riddell himself, and it is incalculable the 
amount of good which was thereby effected, notwith- 
standing the great disadvantage which the institution 
then laboured under, by the want of a suitable building 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 195 

wherein to carry on its operations. The want of such 
a building was much bemoaned by Mr. Riddell, as well 
as by all who took an interest in the well working of the 
institution. Little did we dream at the time that we 
should so shortly be put into the possession of what we 
so ardently desired, but at the loss of our worthy and 
respected President himself. Yet so it happened. 

On the 30th September, 1855, Mr. Riddell died sud- 
denly. The news of his death fell upon the people of 
Masham like a thunderbolt, and was received by them 
with the greatest consternation and dismay, each one 
feeling that by his melancholy death he had lost a much 
loved and valued friend. Never did man die more 
regretted and beloved. On the day of his burial his 
remains were followed to the grave by a large concourse 
of friends and parishioners ; never did I witness such a 
depth of feeling as was exhibited on that melancholy 
occasion, not a few otherwise stout-hearted men giving 
vent to their pent-up sorrow by floods of tears. 

Thus was severed, and that for ever, the happy and 
harmonious connection which had existed, during a pe- 
riod of nearly fifteen years, between this truly good and 
estimable man and his parishioners, during which he had 
endeared himself to those committed to his charge, by 
his pious and exemplary life — the faithful and zealous 
discharge of his duties as their pastor — his unwearied 
exertions in visiting the sick, and relieving their varied 
necessities — his unbounded liberality to the poor, and 
to the several charitable institutions — and by his kind, 
gentle, and Christianlike bearing to all. 

Soon after Mr. Riddell' s sudden and melancholy death, 
a strong desire was expressed by many of his parishion- 
ers and friends to pay some mark of respect to his 
memory, and at the same time to preserve and hand down 
to posterity some lasting record of him, and his connec- 
tion with the parish. As he had in his lifetime taken a 
very lively interest in, and had been the president and a 
liberal supporter of, the Mechanics' Institute, from its 



196 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

first establishment until his death, it was determined to 
erect to his memory a handsome building in Masham as 
a Mechanics' Institute, to be called after his name. The 
Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge, very 
liberally granted a site for the building, and in addition 
thereto gave a donation of £20 towards the building. A 
subscription was set on foot for the erection of the build- 
ing, which in a short time amounted to a considerable 
sum. In further aid of the building fund, the ladies of 
Masham formed themselves into a committee, and having 
obtained a long list of lady patronesses, with the name 
of Mrs. Danby Vernon Harcourt at his head, got up a 
Fancy Fair and Bazaar upon a novel and extensive scale. 
The Fancy Fair and Bazaar was held in Swinton Park, 
on the 9th of July, 1856, and was honoured by a very 
large and fashionable assemblage, numbering about 1500. 
The ladies of the committee gracefully and ably presided 
over the fancy fair, and the several stalls, which were 
loaded with a vast variety of fancy and ornamental arti- 
cles, as well as a large assortment of others of a more 
useful description, presented, with the gay throng, a 
most imposing appearance. Never did the fair domains 
of Swinton Park, replete as it is at all times by nature 
with all that is charming and beautiful, show to greater 
advantage than it did on that occasion. Everything 
passed off with the greatest possible satisfaction to all 
parties, and after paying all expenses and outgoings, the 
committee had the pleasure of handing over to the trea- 
surer of the building committee the sum of £275, which 
with the sum of £461 raised by subscription, made the 
sum of £736, applicable to the erection of the building. 
This last mentioned sum covered the entire cost of the 
building. 

The first stone of the building was publicly laid on 
the 15th March, 1856, by Admiral Harcourt, as chair- 
man of the building committee, and myself, as president 
of the institute, in the presence of Timothy Hutton, Esq., 
of Clifton Castle, the Rev. Thos. Hedley, M.A., vicar of 






HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE. 



197 



Masham, Win. Perkin, Esq., the architect, the officers 
and committee of the institute, and a large concourse of 
the inhabitants of Masham and neighbourhood; when 
suitable addresses were delivered. 

The Public Inauguration, and opening of the building 
for the purposes of the institute, took place on the 3rd 
November, 1856, by a Public Soiree, which was attend- 
ed by a large and respectable audience. The chair was 
taken on that occasion by myself, as president of the 
institute, when the meeting was addressed by the Rev. 
Canon Trevor, of York, the Rev. Dr. Whiteside, vicar 
of Scarborough, the Rev. Thomas Hedley, M. A., vicar 




THE RIDDELL MEMORIAL MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. 

of Masham, the Rev. S. H. Atkins, of Studley, Barnett 
Blake, Esq., Lecturer to the Yorkshire Union of Mecha- 
nics' Institutes, and by other gentlemen, each speaker 
dwelling at some length on the great benefits which me- 
chanics' institutes were capable of effecting, and paying 
a tribute to the memory of the late Mr. Riddell. The 
proceedings of the evening passed off with great success 
and gave universal satisfaction. 

At the end of that year I resigned the office of Pre- 
sident into the hands of the then newly appointed Vicar 



198 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHlRti. 

of Masham (Mr. Hedley), and the Institute has ever since 
been carried on principally under his personal direction 
and superintendence. 

The next public improvement which claims our atten- 
tion, was the lighting of the town of Masham with gas, 
in 1858. This was effected by the aid of a Joint Stock 
Company, which was formed for the purpose, under the 
style of " The Masham Gas Company Limited." The 
construction of the works was let to the late Mr. Knap- 
ton of the Albion Foundry v York, who completed the 
contract very satisfactorily. The town was lit up on the 
5th November, 1858, when the event was commemora- 
ted by a large dinner party at the King's Head Inn, 
which was attended by all the principal Inhabitants of 
the place, and was presided over by myself, as chairman 
of the Gas Company — the town being at the same time 
gaily illuminated with a great variety of appropriate 
devices. The Gas Company, as a commercial specula- 
tion, proved highly successful — its shareholders having 
received out of the profits realised by it a dividend of £5 
per cent, in the first year of its existence, and £10 per 
cent, in the second year. The public lamps in the streets 
are now lighted by the Local Board for the Masham 
District (which comprises the whole Parish), appointed 
under the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1858. 

About the same time the town received the benefit of 
a plentiful supply of excellent spring water, brought to 
it in pipes from a distant spring, by the enterprise of a 
private individual (Mr. George Kendall of Masham). I 
doubt whether that spirited gentleman receives a suffi- 
cient return in the shape of water-rents, for his invest- 
ment in the undertaking. This however is quite certain 
that the waterworks have been a great boon to the inha- 
bitants, in the supply of a want which was very much 
felt. 

I have already recorded the raising of a Volunteer 
Corps at Masham during the late French war: it is 
therefore but right that I should mention, for the credit 



HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIKE. 199 

of the present generation, that when circumstances arose 
some two or three years ago, to render it desirable for 
the defence of the nation that a volunteer force should 
again be raised, a sub-division of Volunteers was formed 
in Masham under the name of " The Mashamshire or 
11th North Eiding of Yorkshire Eifle Volunteers." 
The commissioned officers of this sub-division are, Tho- 
mas Smurthwaite, Esq., of High Burton near Masham, 
as lieutenant; James David Eaine Fisher, Esq., as en- 
sign; and Midgley Cockroft, Esq., M.D, as assistant 
surgeon. Both officers and men have since its formation 
been very diligent and unremitting in their attendance 
at the necessary drills, and in acquiring the necessary 
instructions to enable them efficiently to discharge their 
respective duties, and to acquit themselves creditably 
when called up for duty. 

The Dissenters are very numerous throughout the 
parish, and there are accordingly many dissenters' cha- 
pels within it. The Society of Friends were formerly 
very numerous here, and they have still a meeting-house 
in Masham, and a burial-ground at Ellington, although 
there is not now a single member of their society left in 
the parish. The Baptists were the first, after the 
Quakers, to establish themselves here. They formerly 
held their meetings in the lobby in the long room con- 
nected with the Bay-horse inn. They afterwards bought 
a site in Grewelthorpe road, on which they built for 
themselves their present chapel. The Wesleyans (who 
are a numerous body) have also had a chapel of their 
own here for many years past. The Primitive Metho- 
dists have also been established here for many years, 
but have not as yet been able to raise a chapel of their 
own. They meet in a room at the Cross-of-the-hill, 
which they rent for the purpose. A body calling them- 
selves " Eeform Wesleyans " have also been established 
here within the last few years, and meet for worship in a 
room rented by them for the purpose. Besides these, 
the Wesleyans possess a chapel of their own at Fearby. 



200 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Provident Institutions are numerous within the 
parish : the Oddfellows (of the Manchester Unity), are 
the most numerous body, and possess a Hall of their 
own, in which they hold their lodge meetings. The 
Gardeners, and the members of the several societies 
called " Free-gifts," meet for the most part at the public 
houses. 

A Savings Bank has also been established here, in 
connection with the Ripon Savings Bank, and deposits 
are received, and payments made, by the trustees every 
Wednesday at noon, at the Mechanics' Institute. 

Having now noticed everything of importance con- 
nected with the past history of Masham, its parish, and 
its institutions, I now proceed to speak of its several 
Lords. I accordingly, in the first place give, in a tabu- 
lar form, a complete list of the several Lords of Masham- 
shire, commencing with Earl Edwin, who held Masham- 
shire in the reign of Edward the Confessor, and ending 
with the present Lord and Lady of the Manor, shewing 
in what manner and at what date they succeeded each 
other in the Lordship. And in the second place, I give 
the personal history of the several Lords, and of their 
families and connections, in the shape of full and extend- 
ed Pedigrees. 





VIEW OP MASHAM FROM ABOVE THE BRIDGE. 



A TABLE, 

Containing a List of the several Lords of Masham- 
shire, from the reign of Edward the Confessor to the 
present time, shewing when and how they succeeded 
each other in the Lordship. 

Edward the Confessor to 5 William I. 1071. 

Edwin, the Saxon Earl of Chester, and brother of Earl 
Morcar the Saxon Earl of Northumberland, was at 
this time Lord of Mashamshire. In consequence of 
the great opposition which Edwin and William of- 
fered to William the Conqueror, the latter, in 1071, 
seized upon Earl Edwin's estates, and granted them 
to his own nephew, 

[5 William I. 1071.] 

Earl Alan, known as Alan Rufus, Earl of Bretagne, and 
Richmond. On his death Mashamshire descended to 
his brother, 

[3 William II. 1089.] 

Earl Alan the 2nd, known as Alan Niger, Earl of Bre- 



202 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIBE. 

tagne and Richmond. On his death Mashamshire de- 
scended to his brother, 

[7 William II. 1093.] 

Earl Stephen, Earl of Bretagne and Richmond, who 
granted Mashamshire in his life- time to 

[Before 1 Stephen. 1135.] 

Nigel de Albini. On his death he was succeeded by his 
eldest son, Roger, then a minor, who took the name 
of 

[About 1 Stephen. 1135.] 

Roger de Mowbray, who granted Mashamshire in his 
life -time to his relative, 

[Before 10 Stephen. 1140.] 

Walter de Buhere, on whose death Mashamshire passed 
to his sister and heiress, 

Emma de Buhere, who in consideration of some services 
rendered to her in the recovery of her estates in Nor- 
mandy, granted Mashamshire to 

John de Walton, or Wauton — which grant was after- 
wards confirmed by Roger de Mowbray. On his 
death he was succeeded by his son, 

[7 Richard I. 1195.] 

Gilbert de Walton, or Wauton, on whose death he was 
succeeded by his son, 

[13 John. 1211.] 

John de Walton, or Wauton, who granted Mashamshire 
in his life-time to his son, 

[Before 15 Henry III. 1230.] 

Sir John de Walton, or Wauton, on whose death he was 
succeeded by his daughter, 

[26 Edward I. 1297.] 

Joan de Walton, or Wauton, afterwards the wife of Hugh 
de Hopham, whom she survived. She sold Masham- 
shire to 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 203 

[2 Edward III. 1328.] 

Sir Geoffrey le Scrope, Knt., on whose death it descended 
to his son, 

[13 Edward III. 1339.] 

Sir Henry le Scrope, Knt. (1st Lord Scrope of Masham) 
who was succeeded on his death by his son, 

[16 Richard II. 1392.] 

Sir Stephen le Scrope, Knt. (2nd Lord Scrope of Alas- 
ham) on whose death he was succeed by his son, 

[8 Henry IV. 1406.] 

Sir Henry le Scrope, Knt. (3rd Lord Scrope of Masham) 
on whose attainder for high treason, and consequent 
forfeiture of his estates, Mashamshire became vested 
in 

[3 Henry V. 1415.] 

The Crown, by whom it was granted out by Letters 
Patent (dated 10th June, 5 Henry V., 1417) to 

[10th June, 5 Henry V. 1417.] 

Sir Henry Fitz Hugh, Knt. His grant of these estates 
having been set aside, after a long contest, the estates 
of the last mentioned Henry Lord Scrope, were finally 
by Act of Parliament restored to his fourth brother, 

[25 Henry VI. 1446.] 

Sir John Scrope, Knt. (4th Lord Scrope of Masham) 
who granted Mashamshire in his life-time to his son, 

[4th May, 32 Henry VI. 1453.] 

Sir Thomas Scrope, Knt. (5th Lord Scrope of Masham) 
on whose death he was succeeded by his son, 

[15 Edward IV. 1475.] 

Sir Thomas Scrope, Knt. (6th Lord Scrope of Masham) 
on whose death, without issue, he was succeeded by 
his brother, 

[9 Henry VII. 1493.] 

Henry Scrope (7th Lord Scrope of Masham) on whose 
death he was succeeded bv his son, 



201 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

[6 Henry VIII. 1514.] 

Ralph Scrope (8th Lord Scrope of Masham) on whose 
death, without issue, he was succeeded by his brother, 

[7 Henry VIII. 1515.] 

Geoffrey Scrope, Clerk, (9th Lord Scrope of Masham) 
on whose death without issue, and in default of heirs 
male, his real estates, including Mashamshire, des- 
cended to his three sisters and co-heiresses, 

[9 Henry VIII. 1517.] 

Alice, the wife of Sir James Strangways, Knt., Marjery, 
the wife of Sir Christopher Danby, Knt., and Eliza- 
beth, the wife of Sir Ralph Fitz- Randolph, Knt. On 
a partition of the estates amongst these three co-heir- 
esses, Mashamshire was allotted to, and fell to the 
share of 

[12 Henry VIII. 1520.] 

Marjery, the wife of Sir Christopher Danby, Knt. On 
her death it passed to her son, 

[23 Henry VIII. 1531.] 

Sir Christopher Danby, Knt. (who at his father's death 
in 1514 was a minor, 12 years of age.) On his death 
he was succeeded by his son, 

[14 Elizabeth. 1571.] 

Sir Thomas Danby, Knt., on whose death he was suc- 
ceeded by his grandson, 

[32 Elizabeth. 1589-90.] 

Christopher Danby, Esq. (then a minor,) on whose 
death intestate he was succeeded by his son and heir, 

[22 James I. 1624.] 

Sir Thomas Danby, Knt. (then a minor). On his death 
he was succeeded by his eldest son, 

[12 Charles II. 1660.] 

Thomas Danby, Esq., on whose death he was succeeded 
by his son, 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 205 

[19 Charles II. 1667.] 

Thomas Danby, Esq., on whose death he was succeeded 
by his brother, 

[23 Charles II. 1671.] 

Christopher Danby, Esq., on whose death he was suc- 
ceeded by his uncle, 

[35 Charles II. 1683.] 

Christopher Danby, Esq., who in that same year con- 
veyed Mashamshire to his son, 

[35 Charles II. 1683.] 

Sir Abstrupus Danby, Knt., on whose death he was suc- 
ceeded by his son, 

[14 George I. 1727.] 

Abstrupus Danby, Esq., on whose death he was suc- 
ceeded by his eldest son, 

[24 George II. 1750.] 

William Danby, Esq., on whose death he was succeeded 
by his only son, 

[22 George III. 1781.] 

William Danby, Esq., on whose death without issue, 
Mashamshire passed by his will to his widow, 

[4 William IV. 1833.] 

Anne Holwell Danby, now (1863) the wife of Admiral 
Octavius Henry Cyril Venables Vernon Harcourt, 
who now holds it for her life. 



206 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



PEDIGREES OF THE SEVERAL LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE, FROM 
THE REIGN OF EDWARD THE CONFESSOR TO THE PRESENT 
TIME. 

EARL EDWIN. 

LINEAGE. 

Algar, the Saxon Earl of Mereia in the time of Ed- 
ward the Confessor, had the following children, viz. : — 

I. Morcar, Earl of Northumberland, who received his 
appointment from the people, and was afterwards con- 
firmed in it by Edward the Confessor. He was also 
Governor of York, which City, after a gallant defence 
of six months by him and his brother Edwin (Lord of 
Mashamshire) on its being besieged by William the Con- 
queror, he w r as obliged to surrender through famine, in 
1071. He was condemned by the Conqueror to perpe- 
tual imprisonment. 

II. Edwin, the Saxon Earl of Chester and Lord of 
Mashamshire, in the time of Edward the Confessor. He 
was the brother-in-law of King Harold, son of Earl God- 
wyn, who at the death of Edward the Confessor, had 
been elected by the people and crowned King of Eng- 
land. William Duke of Normandy having laid claim to 
the crown, and Tosti (the then Earl of Northumberland) 
having landed on Lindsey coast in Lincolnshire, with a 
rebellious force, for the purpose of disputing Harold's 
title to the crown, Edwin with his brother Morcar, rose 
and beat them out of the country, and afterwards 
gave battle to Harold Harfagar, King of Norway, who 
then invaded the land, but without success. It is not 
very certain, but very probable, that he was at the 
Battle of Stamford Bridge near York (which took place 
five days afterwards) where Harold Harfager the King 
of Norway was slain. After the disastrous defeat and 
death of Harold, the last of our Saxon monarchs, at the 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 207 

Battle of Hastings, Edwin and his brother Morcar of- 
fered the most vigorous and organised opposition to the 
arbitrary usurpation of William the Conqueror. The 
crafty Conqueror, however, being anxious to conciliate 
two such powerful Thanes as Edwin and Morcar were, 
and to win them over to his own interest professed great 
friendship towards them, appointed them to honourable 
posts at his coronation, and still more, promised to give 
one of his daughters to Earl Edwin in marriage. Thus 
tempted, instead of further resisting the Conqueror's 
pretensions, they rendered him important services ; but 
when Edwin asked for his promised reward, the Con- 
queror not only refused the fair bride but insulted the 
suitor. Upon this Edwin and Morcar secretly left the 
Norman Court, and coming here into the north of Eng- 
land, joined their incensed countrymen, and made com- 
mon cause with them for the recovery of the ancient 
liberties of the people. 

Having rallied around them the flower of the Saxon 
nobility, and garrisoned the City of York, they made a 
long and desperate resistance to the Norman arms. Af- 
ter a protracted siege, however, in which they were 
joined by Gospatric (Lord of Masham town) they and 
the gallant Saxons were defeated, through famine and 
the treachery of their Danish allies. Whilst William 
the Conqueror and his Norman allies were thus laying 
siege to the City of York in 1071, he deprived Earl 
Edwin of all his estates (including Mashamshire) and 
gave them to his own relative, Earl Alan (of whom here- 
after) as a reward for the great services which he had 
rendered to him, on that and on other occasions. The 
Conqueror having taken Earl Edwin's brother Morcar 
prisoner, Edwin determined to release his brother or 
lose his life in the attempt, but was betrayed by his own 
followers into the hands of the Normans, when he lost 
his life. His death was much lamented not only by his 
own countrymen but by the French and Normans — on 
account, it is said, of his noble extraction, the devotion 






208 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

of his parents, the handsomeness of his person, and of 
his being an especial lover of the clergy, monks, and 
poor persons. So much indeed was he regretted that 
when the Conqueror himself heard by what treachery 
his life had been taken, it is said that he was compas- 
sionately moved and wept, and instead of rewarding 
those that betrayed him, as they had been led to expect, 
he banished them, as they richly deserved to be. 

III. Algytha, who married Harold, the last of our 
Saxon Kings of England, who was slain at the Battle 
of Hastings. She died in 1075, and was buried near 
her husband at Westminster. She had by him two sons 
called, 

I. Wolf, who was but a child when his father 

was slain, and 
II. Edmund. 

IV. Lucy, whom the Conqueror gave in marriage to 
Ivo Talbois, a Norman, who was made Lord of all Hol- 
land in Lincolnshire. 



EAEL ALAN. 

A A A A 

t 'k t X I LINEAGE. 

k 'k 'k m k \ Eudo, Earl of Bretagne in Armorica, 
i k k 'k i' J na( l the following children, viz. : — 
i i i m t J I. Alan Rufiis, or Fergeaunt, of 
jfc A' 'k^y whom hereafter. 

II. Alan Niger, of whom hereafter. 

III. Stephen, of whom also hereafter. 

IV. Brian, who marrying the heiress of Chateau Bri- 
ant, retired into Cornwall, where he laid the foundation 
of a noble family, which nourished for many ages. 

Y. Ribald, the first Lord of Middleham, who by his 
wife Algatha, daughter of Robert de Brusce, of Skelton 
Castle, in Cleveland — had a son, 

I. Robert, Lord of Middleham, who in 1190, built the 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 209 

Castle of Middleham. He married Helwisa, daughter 
and heiress of Ealph de Glanville, a Baron, and Chief 
Justice of England hi the time of Henry ll. and Richard 
I. He left the following children, viz, : — 

I. Ranulphus, Lord of Middleham. 
II. Robert, Lord of Middleham. 
III. Mary, the wife of Robert de Neville, Lord 
of Raby, by whom she had many children. 
By her Middleham Castle came into the 
Neville family. 

II. Bardolf, the father of Akarius, who founded the 
Abbey of Fors, in Wensleydale, in 1144, which was 
afterwards transferred to Jervaux. 

Alan Rufus, or Fergaunt, above-mentioned, came into 
England with the Conqueror, and commanded the rear 
of his army at the Battle of Hastings, and was married 
to Constance, one of the king's daughters. As a reward 
for his services, the Conqueror, at the siege of York in 
1071, gave him all the estates (including Mashamshire) 
of which he had deprived Earl Edwin, as before men- 
tioned. By this means he became Earl of Richmond 
and Lord of Mashamshire. He died in 1089, but left 
no issue, whereupon he was succeeded as Lord of Mas- 
hamshire by his brother, 

Earl Alan Niger, who was in great favour with King 
William Rufus, and was a great benefactor to the church. 
He also died without issue, a.d. 1093, when Masham- 
shire descended to his brother, 

Earl Stephen, who' granted Mashamshire, some time 
before 1136, to Nigel de Albini (of whom hereafter). 
He died in 1137, and was succeeded in his remaining 
estates by his son, 

Earl Alan (surnamed the Savage,) who confirmed the 
grant of Mashamshire made by his father Earl Stephen, 
by again granting Mashamshire to Roger de Mowbray, 
the son and heir of Nigel de Albini. He died a.d. 1165, 
leaving issue, 

I. Conan, his successor. 



210 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

II. Robert. 

III. Brian, father of Alan, Lord of Bedale. 

IV. Reginald, of whom I do not further treat, as 

Mashamshire had ceased to be held by 
them or their family by the grant thereof 
by Alan Niger to Nigel de Albini, of whom 
I proceed next to speak. 
Arms : — Escutcheon, Ermine. 



NIGEL DE ALBINI, 

AND 

ROGER DE MOWBRAY. 

LINEAGE. 

Roger de Albini, by Amicia de Mowbray, sister to 
Robert, Earl of Northumberland, had (amongst other 
issue) a son, 

Nigel de Albini, who came into England with the 
Conqueror, and was, after the Conquest, one of those 
captains who marched with him into the northern parts, 
and laid waste this part of the country. He was after- 
wards Bow-bearer to King William Rufus, and was 
present when that king came by his untimely death. 
He was a great warrior, and received as a reward for his 
valour grants of very large possessions. It is said that 
he was so enriched that he had in England 140 knights' 
fees, as also 120 in Normandy. He became possessed of 
Mashamshire by a grant thereof from Earl Stephen, as 
before mentioned, which grant was afterwards confirmed 
by Earl Stephen's son, and heir (Earl Alan), granting 
Mashamshire to Roger de Mowbray, as the son and heir 
of this Nigel de Albini. Whilst he was Lord of Mas- 
hamshire, he granted Aldborough to the Monks of Foun- 
tains. He had two wives, the first of whom was Maude, 
the daughter of Richard de Aquila, whom he married by 
permission of Pope Paschall, hi the lifetime of her hus- 
band, Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland, 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 211 

whilst lie (Mowbray) was in prison for his rebellion 
against King William Rufus. He afterwards got divorced 
from her, on the pretext of her being his kinsman's wife, 
and then he married Gundreda. He died in the year 
1135, and by Gundreda, his wife, he left as his successor, 
and heir of his extensive estates, (which included Mas- 
hamshire) a son, 

Roger de Albini, who by the special command of King 
Henry I., assumed the name of Roger de Mowbray. 
This Roger de Mowbray, being a minor at his father's 
death, was a ward to King Stephen. He, like his father 
Nigel de Albini, was a great warrior, but had a still 
stronger bent to works of religion and peace. He was a 
most powerful baron, and his landed possessions were 
immense. He had four seats, or castles, annexed to his 
several baronies. Of these the first was Thirsk, depen- 
dent on which was that fine and fertile portion of the 
county of York, still denominated the " Yale of Mow- 
bray.'' The second was the Barony of Mashamshire, and 
Kirkby Malzeard (at which latter place he had one of his 
castles), which stretched from the eastern confine of 
Mashamshire, by Middlesmoor, to Hebden-in- Craven. 
The third was Ewcross-Wapentake, stretching from Cra- 
ven to the confines of Westmoreland, having another 
castle at Burton-in-Lonsdale ; and the last was the Isle 
of Axiholme, where he had also a castle, called Epworth 
Castle. With Mashamshire, however, he parted in his 
lifetime, having granted it to his relative Walter de 
Buhere (of whom hereafter). Mr. Jefferson, in his His- 
tory of Thirsk, says, "In Roger de Mowbray the unfor- 
tunate always found a friend ; one that not only pitied 
their misfortunes, but also used his endeavours to relieve 
them ; in battle he was valiant, and like a genuine hero, 
spread slaughter and destruction around him. He was 
lofty of stature ; and his noble mien and condescending 
manners won him many friends." In the year 1138, on 
David, King of Scotland, invading England, this Roger 
de Mowbray, having sent the whole force of his wide 



212 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

domains into the field, was, although a youth, one of the 
barons who commanded the King's army at the memora- 
ble battle, the Battle of the Standard, which was fought 
at Northallerton on the 22nd August, 1138, and at which 
the English obtained a great victory over the Scots. 
About the year 1142, adhering to the King against the 
Empress Maud, he was with him at the Battle of Lincoln, 
where he was taken prisoner, but was afterwards released 
when the Queen and her son were obliged to retire into 
Normandy. In the year 1148, he accompanied Lewis 
VII. , King of France, as a Crusader, to the Holy Land, 
where it is related that he fought and vanquished a stout 
and hardy pagan in single combat. In the year 1173, 
having taken the side of Prince Henry in his contest with 
his father, King Henry II., for the throne, whilst he was 
staying at his castle at Thirsk, he planned a rebellion 
against the King, into which he entered very heartily, 
but proving unsuccessful he was taken prisoner by Geof- 
frey, the Bishop elect of Lincoln (the King's bastard son) 
on Candlemas day, 1140, when his castles at Kirkby 
Malzeard and Thirsk^ were besieged, and they, with his 
other castles, were destroyed by order of the King. 
Amongst other religious houses, he founded the Abbey 
of Byland, as also the Priory of Newburgh, and made 
numerous and extensive grants of land to the monks of 
Fountains, and of Jervaux, as well as to other religious 
houses, amounting, it is said, to no fewer than thirty-five 
in number, to all of which he was a most liberal benefac- 
tor. Probably in order to expiate the crime of joining 
in rebellion against his King, he afterwards took a second 

* Mr. Jefferson, in his History of Thirsk, in speaking of Roger de Mow- 
bray's Castle of Thirsk, says, " This strong and warlike fortress, whose 
formidable walls overlooked the few houses which composed the town of 
Thirsk, was of immense magnitude, and inferior to few in the kingdom for 
the magnificence of its external appearance, as well as the sumptuous gran- 
deur of the interior. Its towers were high and numerous, and of such excel- 
lent stone that they at once displayed all the richness of Gothic architecture, 
and all the durability so necessary to preserve them from the rage and vio- 
lence of the feudal times, to which they were subjected. * * * Mowbray 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 213 

expedition to the Holy Land, on which occasion he was 
again unsuccessful. The Christians being vanquished by 
Saladin, Roger de Mowbray was taken prisoner along with 
Guy, King of Jerusalem, but was afterwards redeemed 
by the Knights Templars. Wearied with wars and dis- 
gusted with the world, he returned to England, and 
retired to the calm seclusion of Byland Abbey, where he 
assumed the monastic habit, and spent the last fifteen 
years of his long and eventful life, in offices of religion. 
He was buried within the Abbey, in an arch on the south 
side of the Chapter-house, near to the Lady Gundreda, 

was always well provided with stores for a siege, and the most orderly dis- 
cipline was observed among his troops, which generally amounted to 500 
effective men, who were willing at any time to lay down their lives for their 
valiant leader, and would have thought them richly bestowed. The castle 
itself was a noble pile of building, uniting the magnificence of a royal palace 
with the strength and security of an impregnable fortress. The soldiers 
were sprung from the different clans of the Mowbrays, and with their war- 
like leader had often fought valiantly and successfully, and had defended 
with fidelity incorruptible the rights of their beloved commander. The cas- 
tle, with its outworks, occupied four acres of ground, but now scarce a stone 
remains upon another to mark the scene of all this bustle and confusion. 
The view, on passing the grand entrance, was calculated to strike terror into 
the beholder. The ponderous iron gates turned heavily on their hinges, 
' grating harsh thunder.' The courts were filled with the warriors of the 
Mowbrays, who nightly traversed the ramparts, to keep diligent watch over 
the inmates of the castle, and to prevent a surprisal by lurking violence. 
The great hall was of spacious dimensions, and its decorations were of exqui- 
site workmanship, hung with waving banners, the fruits of hard-earned 
victory." 

If this is really a true and faithful description of Roger de Mowbray's 
castle at Thirsk, we may form some idea of the magnificence and strength of 
his other castle at Kirkby-Malzeard. All, however, that we know of it is 
its situation, and that it was situated on an eminence, with a deep ditch on 
the north, and commanding most extensive prospects to the east and north- 
east, and from which, no doubt, his other castle at Thirsk was visible. The 
late Mr. Dickins, in enlarging his mansion at Kirkby-Malzeard, and laying 
out his pleasure-grounds, dug up many ruins of the ancient castle of Kirk- 
by-Malzeard, consisting of bases, shafts, capitals, which are still preserved. 
The camp upon Nut with and the ford, or wath, across the Yore, near Aldbo- 
rough (which still bears his name), are also evidences of his greatness and 
martial character. 



sons, viz. 



214 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

his mother, having the figure of a sword placed over his 
tomb. His remains laid there in peace and undisturbed 
for a period of 600 years, namely, until the month of 
July, 1819, when the late Martin Stapylton, Esq., having 
learned from an ancient MS. the spot where they were 
deposited, took it into his head to cause them to be 
disinterred, and to be conveyed to his seat at Myton. 
Fragments of the coffin and small fragments of bones 
were obtained by different persons, who preserved them 
as relics. He left by Alice de Gaunt, his wife, two 
* l 

I. Nigel de Mowbray, (his successor, ) who it will 
be seen, joined his father in the grant of the 
Church of Masham to the Church of St. 
Peter's at York, and also in granting the 
Forest of Masham to John de Wauton ; but 
of this Nigel hereafter. 
II. Robert de Mowbray, who also joined his father 
in making the last-mentioned grants. 
Nigel de Mowbray, above-mentioned, succeeded his 
father in his vast possessions, but dying without issue, 
about the 3rd Richard I., 1191, he was succeeded by his 
eldest son, 

William de Mowbray, who was one of the barons who 
took up arms against King John, and was one of the 
twenty-five barons appointed to enforce the observation 
of Magna Charta, which was signed at Runnimede June 
19th, 1215. In the reign of Henry III., adhering to the 
same cause, he joined the party of Prince Lewis of 
France, who invaded England at the request of many of 
the barons, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Lin- 
coln, when his lands were forfeited, but afterwards 
restored to him. He died in 1222, and was buried at 
Newburgh Abbey. He was succeeded by his eldest son 

* Neither of these two sons, or their descendants, were ever Lords of 
Mashamshire, their father having in his lifetime granted the lordship to his 
kinsman Walter de Buhere. I however continue the pedigree, on account of 
the prominent figure they make in the history of the country. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 215 

and heir, (by Agnes his wife, daughter of the Earl ol 
Arundel, ) 

Nigel de Mowbray, who dying without issue, was suc- 
ceeded by his brother, 

Roger de Mowbray, who is the deforciant to the fine, 
set out in the Appendix hereto. He died in the 51st 
Henry III., 1266, and was succeeded by his eldest son, 

Roger de Mowbray, who was summoned to Parliament 
as a baron. He died at Ghent about the 26th Edward L, 
1297, and was buried at Fountains Abbey. He was 
succeeded by his eldest son (by his wife Rose, sister of 
Gilbert, Earl of Clare), 

John de Mowbray. He married Aliva, daughter and 
co-heir of William de Braose, of Gower, and thereby 
acquired that inheritance. He fought in Scotland, and 
was knighted in the 35th Edward I., 1306.* Having 
joined in the insurrection under Thomas, Earl of Lan- 
caster, he was amongst those who were taken prisoners 
at the battle of Boroughbridge, and was afterwards 
hanged at York, 15th Edward II., 1321. Rapin says, 
" Never since the Norman Conquest had the scaffold been 
drenched with so much noble English blood as on this 
occasion." He was succeeded by his son and heir, 

John de Mowbray, who marched with the King into 
Scotland, was made Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed, 
and served in the French wars with great honour. He 
died of the plague at York, in the 35th Edward III., 
1361, leaving by his wife Joane Plantagenet (one of the 
daughters of Henry Earl of Lancaster) a son, as his suc- 
cessor, viz. : — 

John de Mowbray, who, having joined the Crusaders, 
was slain near Constantinople, on his way to the Holy 
Land, in the 42nd Edward III., 1368. He married 

* During the reign of Edward II., the battles of My ton on the Swale, 
Northallerton, Boroughbridge, Knaresborough, and Kipon, were fought 
against the Scots, and great was the desolation which was caused throughout 
this district. Northallerton and Ripon were ransomed by the King for 1000 
marks each, but Knaresborough was totally burnt by the victorious Scots. 



216 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



Elizabeth, daughter and heir of John Lord Segrave, by 
Margaret his wife, daughter and co-heir of Thomas Plan- 
tagenet of Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk, and Marshall of 
England, son of King Edward I. by his second Queen. 
He was succeeded by his son, 

John de Mowbray, who at the coronation of Richard 
II. was created Earl of Nottingham, but dying soon 
after, he was succeeded by his brother, 

Thomas de Mowbray, who 
was created Earl of Notting- 
ham. On the 20th Richard II. 
1396, he was appointed Earl 
Marshall of England, to hold 
to him and the heirs male of 
his body, and that by reason of 
the said office he should bear 
"a golden truncheon enamelled 
with black at each end, having 
at the upper end the King's 
arms, and at the lower their 
own arms engraven thereon." 
In the 21st Richard II., 1397, 
he came into such favour with 
the King, that he was created 
Duke of Norfolk. Falling, 
however, into disgrace with his 
royal master, he was banished 
for life, and died of the pesti- 
lence at Yenice, a.d. 1400. His wife was Elizabeth, 
sister and one of the coheiresses of Thomas Fitz- Allan, 
Earl of Arundel. He was succeeded by his son, 

Thomas de Mowbray, who was beheaded at York in 
the 6th Henry IY., 1404, with others, for taking part 
with Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York, and the Earl 
of Northumberland, in an alleged conspiracy to dethrone 
the King. Having left no issue, he was succeeded by 
his brother, 

John de Mowbray, who was restored to his father's 




LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 217 

dignities by Henry V., whom he attended into France 
in his wars. He died about the 14th Henry VI., 1435, 
leaving by his wife (Catherine, daughter of Ralph Nevil, 
Earl of Westmoreland) an only son, 

John de Mowbray. He was sent ambassador to 
Picardy, and made Judge Itinerant of Forests. He dying 
the 1st Edward IV., 1461, left by Eleanor his wife, 
(daughter of William, Lord Bourchier) an only son, 

John de Mowbray, the last Duke of Norfolk of this 
family. He died in the 17th Edward IV., 1477, leaving 
issue by Elizabeth, the daughter of John Talbot, Earl 
of Shrewsbury, an only daughter, who was married to 
Richard, Duke of York, second son of Edward IV., who 
by special charter, created him Duke of Norfolk, and 
Earl Warren, to hold to him and the heirs male of his 
body. This young prince, however, did not long survive 
his newly-acquired honours, he and his brother, Edward 
V., having been smothered hi the Tower, by (as it is 
stated in our old histories) their unnatural uncle Richard 
Duke of Gloucester, afterwards King Richard III. Later 
research, however, has tended to weaken the force of 
these assertions, and, to say the least, to throw consider- 
able doubt upon the truth of them. Under such circum- 
stances, it is not only charitable, but proper, for us to 
believe that an uncle could not, and would not, be guilty 
of so foul a murder, and thus imbrue his hands in the 
innocent blood of the children of his deceased brother. 

Arms — Gules, a lion rampant argent. 



WALTER DE BUHERE. 

LINEAGE. 

Walter de Buhere (one of the Lords of Mashamshire), 
was a relative of Roger de Mowbray, as appears by 
a deed in which he confirms to the Abbot of Fountains 
a grant made to that abbey of lands in Swinton, by 
Purgisins, grandson of Roger de Mowbray, by his 



218 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

daughter Margery, to whom Roger had given the manor 
of Swinton. In that deed this Walter de Buhere calls 
this Purgisins (the grandson of Roger de Mowbray), his 
brother. It appears that Roger de Mowbray, in his life- 
time, granted Mashamshire to this Walter de Buhere, 
and that the grant (although now lost), was in existence, 
and produced in evidence on the trial of an action 
brought by Christopher Danby, Esq., against Solomon 
Wyvel, Esq., for a trespass upon his lands in pursuit of 
game ; and it is also mentioned in a schedule of deeds 
belonging to Mashamshire, now at Swinton Park. His 
name also appears in many of the grants belonging to 
Fountains Abbey, by which it is evident that he was 
Lord of Mashamshire ; and this fact is further confirmed 
by the circumstance of his also confirming the grant 
made by Roger de Mowbray of the church of Masham 
to the church of St. Peter's, at York, which he does by 
his making a fresh grant thereof (as was usual at that 
date, when the confirmation of an estate was necessary), 
as will be seen in the Appendix C. hereto of documents 
relating to the church. He appears to have had no 
issue, whereupon Mashamshire descended to his sister 
and heiress, 

Emma de Buhere, who, it seems, granted Masham- 
shire to John de Walton, or Wauton, "for helping her 
to seek her lands in Normandy and England," as is 
stated in the Catalogue before referred to. 





ARMS OF 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 219 



JOHN DE WALTON, OR WAUTON. 

LINEAGE. 

Sir John de Walton, or Wauton, be- 
came Lord of Mashamshire, by grant 
from Emma de Buhere, as above stated, 
which grant was confirmed to him by 
Roger de Mowbray, as appears by a 
document set out in the Appendix A. 
hereto. He, as Lord of Mashamshire, 
gave to the Abbey of Fountains part 
of Nutwith and Flatwith, in Masham- 
de Walton, or wauton. g^g . w hi c h grant was afterwards con- 
firmed to the abbey by Roger de Mowbray, as the then 
Superior, or Chief Lord of the Fee. He died in the 
year 1195, and was buried in the cemetery of Jerveaux 
Abbey. He was succeeded by his son, 

Gilbert de Walton, or Wauton. About the year 
1201, he, as the then Lord of Mashamshire, gave the 
grange of Pott, in frankalmoigne, to the abbey of Foun- 
tains, together with a right of common on Sourmire; 
and by another deed he gave to the same abbey fifteen 
acres of land in the fields of Masham, called Brathorne. 
He died in 12 John, a.d. 1211, and was buried under 
the cloisters, before the door of the chapter-house, in 
Jerveaux Abbey. He was succeeded by his son, 

John de Walton, or Wauton, who granted Masham- 
shire, in his life-time (as appears by a document set out 
in the Appendix A. hereto), to his son and successor^ 
Sir John de Walton, or Wauton. He died 13 Hen. III., 
a.d. 1230, and was succeeded by his son, 

Sir John de Walton, or Wauton, who became Lord of 
Mashamshire in his father's life -time, by a grant thereof, 
as before mentioned. His name occurs in the deeds 
of Fountains Abbey, as a witness to different grants 
made to that abbey of lands in Ellingstring, by Robert 
de Massam, dated the 1 Edw. I., a.d. 1272. In the 34 



220 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



Hen. III., a.d. 1250, he bound himself and his heirs, by 
a deed, to the Abbey of Jerveaux, never to raise a forge 
'in Colsterdale, nor to give or sell any iron mines therein, 
or take any wood therefrom. In the 8 Edw. I., a.d. 
1280, he was called upon by the King to show by what 
authority he claimed Free Warren, in Masham, Elling- 
ton, Ellingstring, Healey, Fearby, and Sutton, to which 
he answered, and proved that he was entitled to the 
same, both by prescription and by a grant thereof by 
King Hen. III. In the pleadings in this action, it is 
called the manor of Masseham, and Ellington, Elling- 
string, &c, hamlets, and members thereof. See the 
record of the proceedings in this action in the Appen- 
dix B. hereto. He died 25 Edw. L, a.d. 1297, leaving 
an only child as his successor, viz. : 

Joan de Walton, or Wauton, afterwards the wife of 
Hugh de Hopham, whom she survived. In the 2 Edw. 




FONT IN SOUTH KILVINGTON CHURCH. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 221 

HI., 1328, she sold* Mashamshire to Sir Geoffrey de 
Scrope. The several deeds relating to this sale will be 
found set out in the Appendix A. hereto. 

Arms: — Argent, a Chevron and an Amulet in the 
dexter point of the Escutcheon, Sable. 



SCROPE OF MASHAM AND UPSALL. 

LINEAGE. 

Sir William le Scrope, Knight, al~ 
pf??£q|^B§8^8 though described by Lord Campbell, 
Ihi^i^lk | m ki s Lives of Chief Justices, as "a 

■&£$#??!% I small squire who lived at Bolton, in 
^^^^:':'|i:f^^rt Yorkshire," was, it is well known, 
yBiKmim^- \ ' : ■•■:-W distinguish ed both in tournaments and 
w^ "t^-:/ in the field, which at that day were 
^fc: ijw considered to be the greatest accom- 

^mg^ plishments which a gentleman could 

possess. And if we are to believe the deposition made 
by the Earl of Arundel, in 1386, in the celebrated con- 
troversy between Sir Richard Scrope (the grandson of 

* It has been frequently stated that Mashamshire and other estates came 
to the Seropes as heirs-at-law to the De Wautons, which is not correct, 
as the truth was that Sir Geoffrey de Scrope acquired them by purchase, as 
will appear by the copy purchase deeds, set out in Appendix A. It would 
seem, however, by the Seropes occasionally quartering the arms of the 
Wautons, that there really was some relationship between them. In an 
article in the 16th vol. of the Archceologia, when speaking of a font in South 
Kilvington Church, of which I introduce an engraving on the opposite page, 
and the arms sculptured upon it, it proceeds thus : — " The first shield is 
Scrope of Upsall, with a label of three, as a younger son of the house of 
Bolton ; the second and third are Scrope also ; the second quartering Wauton. 
The fourth is Scrope, impaling a lion rampant with two tails, which may be 
Cressy, Sutton of Warsop, or Lord Wells. The fifth is Chaworth quartering 
Statham. The sixth is Scrope in a border, which appears to be composed of 
the bearing of Wauton. The seventh is Scrope quartering Chaworth, and 
Scrope quartering Fitzwilliam. The eighth is Scrope quartering Wauton, 
with another shield of arms, probably that of Redman." The font alluded 
to is inscribed round the stem, in bold relief, " D'n's Thomas le Scrop et Eli- 
zabeth uxor ejus," from which it would seem that it was erected at the cost 



222 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the individual here referred to), and Sir Robert Gros- 
vena, knt., hereinafter mentioned, it will be put beyond 
all question that he "was descended from noble and 
generous blood of gentry and ancient ancestry, who had 
always preserved their name and estate in dignity and 
honour;" and the depositions of a host of other witnesses, 
who deposed, on that occasion, to the fact that Sir 
Richard Scrope's ancestors " had continually borne the 
contested coat from the Conquest? thus carrying their 
gentility as far back as the Conquest. The Scropes 
of Castle Combe (a branch of this family), indeed trace 
their pedigree through this Sir William le Scrope, as far 
back as the time of Edward the Confessor. By Con- 
stance, his wife, he had two sons, viz. : 

I. Henry le Scrope, who became Lord Chief Justice 
of the Court of King's Bench. Lord Campbell, in his 
Lives of Chief Justices, vol. 1, page 85, thus speaks of 
him : — " Henry le Scrope, of an obscure origin, from an 
eminence in the legal profession, sat in the House of 
Lords as a baron: and great chancellors and warriors 
were proud to trace him in their pedigree. He was the 
son of William le Scrope, a small squire, who lived at 
Bolton, in Yorkshire. Having studied at Oxford, he 
was transplanted, when very young, to London, to study 
the law in one of the societies then forming, which were 
afterwards denominated ' Inns of Court.' He was much 
distinguished for industry and ability, and in the end of 
the reign of Edwd. I. gained great wealth and repu- 
tation as an advocate." His name appears as an advo- 
cate in the Year Book of 1st Edw. II. On the 27th 

of Thomas, the sixth Lord Scrope of Masham, and Elizabeth, his wife, for- 
merly Elizabeth Neville. 

The late Abstrupus Danby, Esq., in a memorandum in his handwriting 
which I have seen, says that the Scropes had no right to the arms of the 
Wautons, adding, " for they don't appear to have borne 'em at any time." I 
don't know, however, how he could reconcile this statement with the arms 
inscribed on the font in South Kilvington Church, as above mentioned. It 
seems to me that the arms borne on this ancient font fully establish the con- 
nection between the Scropes and the De Wautons. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 223 

November, 1308, lie was made a Judge of the Court of 
Common Pleas; on the 15th June, 1317, he was pro- 
moted to the office of Chief Justice of the Court of 
King's Bench; and on the 19th December, 1330, he 
was appointed Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer. 
He seems to have been in high favour with the King, 
from whom he received many grants for his services, 
and by whom he was created a knight banneret. He 
died on the 7th September, 1336, possessed of large 
estates, leaving by his wife Margaret three sons, all 
of whom were then minors, viz. : 

I. Sir William le Scrope, Knt., who was in the wars 
of Flanders and Scotland. He died in 1345, without 
leaving issue. 

II. Stephen le Scrope, who died before 1345, without 
issue. 

III. Sir Richard le Scrope, Knt., who became first 
Lord Scrope of Bolton. He was born in 1328, and was 
a great warrior. He was in the wars of France temp. 
Edwd. III., by whom he was knighted at the battle of 
Durham, in 1346, hi which the Scots were defeated; 
and in the same year he was at the siege of Calais. Be- 
tween that time, viz., 1346, and the year 1385, a period 
of forty years — (and which is the most brilliant period 
of our annals) — it is said that there was scarcely a 
battle of note in England, France, Spain, or Scotland, 
where the English forces were engaged, in which he did 
not gain honour ; and his career as a statesman was still 
more remarkable. He received a summons to Par- 
liament as Baron Scrope of Bolton, and had also the 
honour of being appointed to the offices of Treasurer of 
the Exchequer, Steward of the King's Household, and 
the King's Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal; 
"having," according to Walsingham, u not his fellow (of 
his degree) in the whole realm, for prudence and inte- 
grity." Such, indeed, was his integrity, as Lord Chan* 
cellor, that he peremptorily refused to affix the Great 
Seal to a grant made by his Royal master, King Richard 



224 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIBE. 

II., to one of his favourites, telling the person that 
the duty of his office would not permit him to set the 
seal committed to his keeping to all the King's indiscreet 
grants, until he had acquired a little more experience ; 
and when the King sent messengers to him to deliver 
up the Great Seal, he refused to do so, saying he would 
not surrender it except to the King himself. It was 
this Lord Scrope who had the memorable dispute with 
Sir Robert Grosvenor, Knt., touching the right to bear 
"az. a bend or " for his arms, which was tried, and after 
a contest which lasted four years, decided in his favour. 
His name is amongst those of the Peers who assented to 
the deposition of Rich. II., whilst his son, the Earl of 
Wiltshire, sacrificed his life in the service of that unfor- 
tunate Sovereign. He founded twelve additional canon- 
ries in the Monastery of St. Agatha, at Easby; he also 
established six chantry priests in his castle at Bolton, 
and made Wensley Church collegiate. He built Bolton 
Castle, and died full of honours, in May, 1403. By his 
will, which is dated 1400, he left to the abbey at Easby 
his set of vestments, chalice, candlesticks, cruets, and 
a little gilt bell ; to the abbot, a covered cup given him 
by the Lord Prince ; to his son and heir, a pair of pater- 
nosters, in coral, which were his father's, and a golden - 
cross he himself had borne; he calls the Lord Arch- 
bishop of York " my dearest father and son," and leaves 
him a maser cup. He married, first, Blanche, daughter 
of Sir William de la Pole,* and sister to Michael, Earl 

* The De la Poles were a very remarkable family. This William de la 
Pole was, in the reign of Edw. III., a wealthy merchant at Hull, and having 
on one occasion lent the King, in his urgent necessities, a large sum of 
money, he was made Chief Baron of the Exchequer and Knight Banneret, 
and was employed as an ambassador on several occasions. His son Michael, 
also, here alluded to, was originally a merchant, but was created Earl of 
Suffolk by Rich. II., and made Lord Chancellor. He was ultimately 
impeached by the Commons for divers misdemeanours and frauds, parti- 
cularly for purchasing lands, while Chancellor, " in deception of the King," 
and being found guilty, was sentenced to death and forfeiture. He, how- 
ever, through the favour of the King, managed to save his life, but was 



LORDS OF MASHAMSH1RE. 225 

of Suffolk; and secondly, Mary, daughter of Sir John 
Montford, Knt. ; by the first wife he had three sons, 
viz. : 

I. Stephen, who died in December, 1403 ; he was Lord 
of Bentley, in Yorkshire, and of Castle Combe, in Wilts, 
and ancestor of the Scropes of Castle Combe and Cock- 
erington. 

II. Sir William le Scrope, K.G., created Earl of 
Wiltshire, to hold the said dignity to him and his heirs 
male for ever. He was greatly esteemed, and employed 
by Rich. II. in numerous and important services. 
Amongst other offices, he was made Seneschal of Aqui- 
taine in 6 Rich. II., and afterwards constituted Governor 
of the Town and Castle of Shirburgh. In the 16th 
of the same reign he was appointed Vice-Chamberlain 
of the Household, and about the same time he pur- 
chased the sovereignty of the Isle of Man from William 
de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, with the Crown thereof, 
it being then a right of the lord of that island to be 
crowned with a regal crown, and to bear the title of 
king; and in 1394, when the truce was confirmed with 
France, he is recorded to have assented to it, " pour le 
Seigneurie de Man," as one of the "allies" of the King 
of England. He was one of the ambassadors deputed 
to France to contract a marriage for King Richard with 
Isabel, eldest daughter of Charles VI. , King of France ; 

deprived of everything he possessed. His son Michael, however, succeeded 
in getting restored to his father's dignities, and was the father of Michael, 
Earl of Suffolk, one of the Peers who tried and condemned to death, as 
a traitor, his relative, Henry Lord Scrope of Masham, and was shortly after- 
wards himself killed at the Battle of Agincourt. On the death of this 
latter nobleman, he was succeeded in his titles by William, son of the first 
Earl above mentioned, and brother to Blanche, and became celebrated in 
the reign of Henry VI., as Queen Margaret's favourite, and was created 
Marquis and Duke of Suffolk, Lord Chancellor, Lord High Admiral, and, in 
fact, Dictator. He was ultimately impeached by the Commons of high 
crimes and misdemeanours, and afterwards decapitated. John de la Pole, 
his son, was, however, restored by Edw. IV. to his father's peerage dig- 
nities, and ultimately married the Princess Elizabeth, the King's second 
sister. 

Q 



226 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

he received from the Crown large grants of confiscated 
lands, and on the 29th September, 1397, he was created 
by letters patent Earl of Wiltshire, and constituted 
Justice of Chester, North Wales, and Flint, with a grant 
of the office of Surveyor of all the Forests within the 
Principality of Chester, and was lastly made a Knight of 
the Garter ; his rapid rise to wealth and honours was, no 
doubt, the cause of his downfall; he is the person of 
whom Shakspere makes the Lord Koos to say, u The 
Earl of Wiltshire hath the realm to farm." — Rich. IT., 
act 2, sc. 1.* On the invasion of the Duke of Lancaster, 
in 1399, he defended the Castle of Bristol for the King, 
when he was taken prisoner and beheaded on the 29th 
July, in the same year, and his estates were seized upon 
by the usurper. When his attainder was confirmed in 
Parliament, it is said that " his father, grey-headed, and 
still commanding the respect of his Sovereign and Peers, 
arose from his seat, his eyes streaming with tears, and 
implored that the proceedings might not affect the inhe- 
ritance of himself or his other children; and was con- 
soled by the King, who assured him that their interests 
should never suffer for the sentence, for he was, as 
he always before deemed him, c a loyal knight.' " Simon 
Thomas Scrope, Esq., of Danby-super-Yore, is now 
prosecuting his claim to the Peerage before a Committee 
of Privileges of the House of Lords.f 

III. Sir Koger Scrope, Knt. (second Lord Scrope of 

* It appears that in 1389 he had been charged with infringing upon the 
franchises of the Bishop of Durham, and that it was then determined that 
he " should, for his transgressions and misprisons in the Bishop of Durham's 
franchise, by way of penance, offer a jewel at St. Cuthbert's shrine," the 
value of which being left to King Rich. II. , was fixed by him to be of the 
value of £500 at the least. Judging from the large amount thus fixed upon, 
and the value of money at that day, his offence must have been a very 
serious one. 

t Simon Thomas Scrope, Esq., of Danby, is descended from Ralph, fourth 
son of John Scrope, of Spennithorne, second son of Henry, sixth Baron 
Scrope, of Bolton, by Elizabeth Percy, daughter of Henry, Earl of Northum- 
berland. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 227 

Bolton.) He died in 1404,* leaving issue, through 
whom Simon Thomas Scrope, Esq* (the claimant to the 
Wiltshire Peerage), traces his pedigree. 

II. Sir Geoffrey le Scrope, Knt. (of whom next). 

Sir Geoffrey le Scrope, Knt. (the first Lord of Mas- 
hamshire of that name), and Chief Justice of the Court of 
King's Bench in the reigns of Edw. II. and Edw. III., 
with the latter of whom he also served in a military 
capacity throughout his French and Scotch wars. He 
is also described as a knight distinguished both in 
lists of tournament and the field, and many interesting 
anecdotes are given of him in the several depositions 
taken in the Scrope and Grosvenor controversy before 
alluded to. Dr. Whitaker, in his History of Rich- 
mondshire, says of him that "he seems to have risen 
under the patronage of the Nevills, and that he first 
appeared in Coverdale, where he obtained a charter of 
free warren in his demesne lands at Coverham, Cald- 
bergh, and Agglethorpe, 5 Edw. III. Six years after- 
wards he began to extend his possessions, probably by 
an extensive practice of the law in Lincolnshire, Kent, 
and Northumberland. The same year he obtained a 
license to make a castle of his manor-house of Clifton- 
upon-Yore, and Yarneswick, in the county of York. Of 

* By his will, he directs that " if Richard, son and heir of Henry de 
Grey, late Lord of Wilton and Shirlond, do not consent to a marriage 
between himself and Matilda, my daughter, when he attains the age of 
fourteen years, then I leave the marriage of the same Richard, with the 
custody of all his lands, to my executors, to dispose of them for the pro- 
motion and marriage of the said Matilda ; and if he do agree to it at the 
said age, then I will that my executors shall apply all the profit of the 
said lands, beyond yearly reprisals, for the salvation of my soul, at their 
discretion." In this will we have not only another illustration of the infa- 
mous traffic in the wardships and marriages of minors, which was at this 
day unblushingly carried on by the highest personages in the land, but also 
an insight into a very ingenious contrivance which is here resorted to by Sir 
Roger Scrope, having for its object the obtaining of a husband, and portion, 
for a daughter, and at the same time, the securing of the salvation of his 
own soul into the bargain. The young gentleman, however, did not after all 
marry the fair Matilda. 



228 MASHAM AND MASHAMSH1RE. 

the Castle of Clifton few vestiges appear, though from 
its vicinity to Masham, it seems to have stood in the 
place of a manor-house for that town. 7 ' There are, 
however, documents giving earlier references to him 
than those mentioned by Dr. Whitaker. The earliest is a 
deed dated July 27, 1310, 4 Edw. II., by which William 
de Brakenbury granted him part of a rent out of the 
mill at Thirsk; and in March, 1316, he is certified as 
possessing property in various townships in Yorkshire. 
He was a serjeant-at-law, 9 Edw. II., a.d. 1315, and 
shortly afterwards he held the office of King's Serjeant. 
In the wardrobe account, there is an entry of the pay- 
ment of £13 6s. Sd. "to Geoffrey le Scrope, King's 
Serjeant, staying near the person of the King, by his 
order, when journeying through divers parts of Eng- 
land in the months of April, May, and June, in the 
present fourteenth year of the King's Gift, for his 
expenses in so staying." About the same period, he was 
employed by the King in negotiating with the Scots. 
He was one of the Commissioners named in a Commis- 
sion dated at Knaresbrough, on the 27th of Feb., 16 
Edw. II., a.d. 1322, for the trial of Andrew de Harcla, 
Earl of Carlisle,* charged with having entered into a 
conspiracy with James Douglas, a Scot, whereby the 
King, for lack of his assistance, was defeated in a battle 
at Byland Abbey. The Commissioners having found 
him guilty, they then and there pronounced the follow- 
ing sentence upon him : — " That his sword should be 
taken from him, and his gilt spurs hacked from his 
heels. That he should then be drawn and hanged by 

* Andrew de Harcla, Earl of Carlisle, was the owner of Harmby, near 
Leyburn, in the fourteenth century. He was the son of a private gentle- 
man, but having distinguished himself in the Scottish wars, was created 
Baron Harcla by Edw. II., on the 15th of May, 1322. In the following 
year he completely routed the insurgents under Prince Thomas Plantagenet, 
Earl of Lancaster, at Boroughbridge, and took the Earl himself prisoner. 
In consequence of his services, he was elevated to the Earldom of Carlisle. 
His sudden elevation seems to have turned his head, and to have induced 
him to enter into this conspiracy. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 229 

the neck; his heart and bowels taken out of his body, 
burnt to ashes, and winnowed ; his body cut in quarters ; 
one to be set on the principal tower of Carlisle Castle ; 
another upon the tower of Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; a 
third upon the bridge at York ; and the fourth at 
Shrewsbury; whilst his head was to be placed on Lon- 
don Bridge;" which judgment was carried into execu- 
tion on the 3rd March, 1322. On the 27th Sept., 
1323, 17 Edw. II., he was raised to the Bench, and 
created a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas ; on the 
21st of March in the folio wing year he was promoted to 
the Chief Justiceship of the King's Bench, and presided 
over that court until the end of that monarch's reign, 
when he was removed for some cause or other, but was 
re-appointed to his office on the 28th Feb., 2 Edw. III. 
In this last-mentioned year he purchased Mashamshire 
from Joan de Hopham, as before mentioned. But it was 
not only as a lawyer that he was distinguished : he made 
himself equally prominent as a diplomatist, a knight, 
and a soldier. As a diplomatist, he was repeatedly 
employed by the King in negotiating many important 
matters of State ; and whilst thus employed, we find 
that other judges had to be appointed to supply his 
place on the Bench. As a knight and a soldier, he 
gained great distinction at the tournaments held at 
Northampton, Guildford, and Newmarket, at the first of 
which he was knighted. He also accompanied the King 
in the invasion of Scotland, and displayed his banner 
and pennon at the affair of Stannow-park ; he was also 
several times one of the royal retinue in Flanders and 
France, having a train of two knights and forty men-at- 
arms; and in July, 1340, 14 Edw. III., he served at 
the siege of Tournay. Sir Geoffrey was twice married : 
his first wife was Ivetta (daughter of Sir William Roos, 
of Ingmanthorp, Yorkshire), whom he married some 
time before 2 Edw. II., 1317 ; his second wife was 
Lora (daughter and co-heir of Sir Gerard de Furnival, 
Lord of Munden Furnival, &c, in Hertfordshire, and of 



230 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHlRE. 

Swanton, Yorkshire, and widow of Sir John Ufflete, 
living 5 Edw. III., 1331.) He died 14 Edw. III., 1340, 
at Ghent, in Flanders, and was buried at Coverham- 
Priory ; he left by his first marriage the following chil- 
dren, viz. : — 

I. Sir Henry Scrope, Knt., Baronet (1st Baron Scr ope 
of Masham), who was born about 1315, his eldest son 
and successor, of whom hereafter. 

II. Sir Thomas Scrope (second son) was living in 
1322. He died during the lifetime of his brother, and 
was buried at Coverham. 

III. Sir William Scrope, Knt., (third son) was born 
about 1325; served in the wars of France, Spain, and 
Scotland, and was at the Battle of Scluse, 1340; Cressy, 
1346; Neville's Cross, 17th October, 1346; Espagniolo- 
sur-mere, 1350; Poictiers, 1356; Berwick, 1357; Najara, 
1367; and at the siege of Calais, 1346-7. He married 
Maud (daughter of John Lord Neville of Raby, K.G., by 
Maud, a daughter of Lord Percy) ; and he died in Spain 
1367, without issue. 

IV. Sir Stephen Scrope (fourth son), who was at the 
Battle of Cressy, 1346; and the sieges of Calais, 1347; 
and Berwick, 1357. Sir Stephen Scrope was living in 
1359, when he held lands at Leyburn, Thornton, and 
other places in Yorkshire. His wife's name was Isabella 
(who was also living in 1359) by whom he left issue an 
only daughter and sole heiress, 

Joan Scrope, who was born about 1365. She married 
first, William de Pert of Tiverington, Yorkshire, who 
died before 1390; and secondly, Sir Roger SAvyllington, 
Knt., who died 1418. She died 20th September, 1427, 
leaving issue bv both her marriages. 

V. Geoffrey Scrope, Clerk (fifth son) Prebendary 
of Apesthorp, 3rd November, 1340; Rector of Bowden 
Magna in Leicestershire, 1366; Prebendary of Hayder, 
Lincolnshire. He died on the 11th April, 1380 (in 
which year his will was proved) and was buried in Lin- 
coln Cathedral. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 231 

VI. Beatrix Scrope, who married, before 1320, Sir 
Andrew Luterel,* of Irnham, in Lincolnshire. 

VII. Constance Scrope, who was married before 1390, 
to Sir Geoffrey Luterel, brother to Sir Andrew Luterel. 

VIII. Ivetta Scrope, who was married to John de Ho- 
tham, who died in her lifetime. She was living in 1355. 

Sir Henry le Scrope, Knight Banneret, and first Baron 
Scrope of Masham (before mentioned as eldest son and 
heir of Sir Geoffrey). He was a military and long-lived 
man. In the 5th Edward III. he served with distinction 
in the wars of Scotland, when a few of the English nobi- 
lity placed Baliol on the throne of that kingdom. He 
was at the siege of Berwick, 1303, and there knighted; 
and at the Battles of Halidon Hill, 1333; Scluse, 1340; 
Cressy, 1346 ; Neville's Cross, near Durham, October, 
1346; Espagniolo-sur-mere, 1350; and at the siege of 
Calais 1346-7; was Governor of Guisnes and Calais, 
1360; and Captain of Calais, 1369. He was one of the 
Commissioners for arraying the County of York on a 
threatened invasion by the French, and during the re- 
mainder of the reign of Edward III., he was either 
actively engaged in the wars, or employed as a diplo- 
matist. In the 2nd Richard II., being then a Knight 
Banneret, he was with others sent Ambassador to treat 
with Charles King of Navarre, regarding a league be- 
tween that prince and the King of England. He was 
summoned to Parliament from November, 24th Edward 
III., 1350, to 7th September, 15th Richard II., 1391. 
He died 31st July, 15th Richard II., 1391, aged about 
76, leaving by his wife Joan* the following children, 



* Robert Luterel, his grandfather, "was summoned to Parliament 22nd 
and 23rd Edward I., and died 25th Edward I. His son Geoffrey never had 
summons to Parliament, nor any of his descendants, hut in 1768, a junior 
branch of this family, Simon Luterel, whose sister married his Royal High- 
ness the Duke of Cumberland, brother to King George III., was created 
Baron Irnham, of Luttrelstown, in Ireland, and was subsequently advanced 
to the dignity of Earl of Carhampton. 

* Mr. Grainge, in his " Vale of Mowbray," says, " His wife was Philippa, 



232 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

I. Sir Geoffrey Scrope, his son and heir ; he was born 
about 1340, served in Brittany at the siege of Rennes, 
1357, and before Paris 1360, when he was knighted: 
he was slain in Lithuania 1362, and was buried in the 
Cathedral of Konigsburg, in Prussia. He married Elea- 
nor, daughter of Ralph Lord Neville, but died without 
issue, and his widow afterwards became a Nun, and sub- 
quently Abbess of the Minories, in London. 

II. Sir Stephen Scrope (second son and successor) of 
whom hereafter. 

III. Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York (third son). 
He was born about 1350. Was Rector of Ainderby- 
Steeple, in Yorkshire, 1367; was consecrated Bishop of 
Lichfield and Coventry, August, 1386, and translated to 
York 23rd June, 1398 ; and was beheaded for high trea- 
son, 8th June, 1405. He was so much beloved by the 
people that great numbers of them used to flock to his 
grave, and so many miracles were said to have been 
wrought at it that Henry IY. ordered it to be concealed 
by great logs of wood. 

IV. Henry Scrope (fourth son) was an Esquire in the 
army before Paris, in 1360. 

Y. Sir John Scrope, Knt., (fifth son) who was born 
about 1345; served in France, 1380, and in Scotland, 
1383. He married before 1402, Elizabeth, eldest daugh- 
ter and coheir of David Strathbogie, Earl of Athol, and 
widow of Sir Thomas Percy, Knt. He died December, 
1405, leaving by his wife the following children, viz. : — 

daughter of Guido de Brien, who died in 1406, and was buried in York 
Minster ;" and he adds the following foot-note in confirmation thereof : — 
" An inscription in St. Stephen's Chapel, in York Minster, extant in Leland's 
time, is decisive as to who was the wife of this Henry le Scrope, and when 
she died." Burke's " Extinct and Dormant Baronage," p. 474, leaves her 
name blank, and afterwards inserts her as the first wife of Sir Henry le 
Scrope, who was beheaded in 1415. " Philippa, wife of Henry Lord Scrope 
of Masham, daughter of Guy Lord Brien, died November 19, 1406." Mr. 
Grainge is not, however, always correct in his statements respecting the 
Scrope family. I therefore adhere to Joan as being the name of Henry 
Lord Scrope's wife. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 



233 



I. Elizabeth Scrope, who married Sir Richard Hast- 
ings, and was living in 1415. 

II. Margaret Scrope, who married Thomas Clarrell, 
of Clarrell near Tickhill, Yorkshire, by whom she had 



She was living in 1415. 



III. Joan Scrope, who married Henry Lord Fitzhugh, 
second Baron: she died 16th Richard II., 1392, leaving 
two sons, viz. : — 

I. John Fitzhugh, who was slain at the Battle of 
Otterbourne, better known as " Chevy Chase," fought by 
the English under Sir Henry Percy and Sir Robert 
Percy, and the Scots under the command of the Earl ol 
Douglas. 

" Ther was slayne upon the Ynglysshe syde, 
For soth and sertenlye, 
A gentell knight, Sir John Fitz-hughe, 
Yt was the more petye." 

The Battle of Otterbourne. 
(From " The Reliques of Ancient English Poetry") 




II. Henry Lord Fitzhugh,* third 
Baron, who attained great eminence 
in the reigns of Henry IV. and Henry 
Y. On the coronation of Henry Y. he 
was appointed Constable of England 
for that solemnity. He was after- 
wards Lord Chamberlain of the 
King's Household, and assisted at the. 
Council of Constance. For his great services he had a 
grant of all the lands which had belonged to the attainted 
Henry Lord Scrope, of Masham — hereafter mentioned — 
'to hold during the term that those lands should continue 
in the King's hands. Thus for a short time he was Lord 

* Henry Lord Fitzhugh was descended from Bardolph, an illegitimate 
brother of Earl Alan Rufus. Bardolph's son, Acharius Fitz-Bardolph, was 
the original founder of Jervaux Abbey, when it was first founded at Fors, 
in Wensleydale, in 1150. The family some generations afterwards took and 
assumed the name of Fitzhugh. 



234 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIEE. 

of Mashamshire, but subsequently surrendered his grant 
on the lands being restored to Sir John le Scrope as 
fourth Baron Scrope of Masham. He was much engaged 
in the French wars, and twice as a Crusader to the Holy 
Land, where he fought with the Saracens and Turks. 
He married Elizabeth Gray, heiress of Marmion of Tan- 
field : he died at Ravens worth on the 11th January, 
1424, and was buried at Jervaux Abbey, the burial- 
place of his ancestors as founders of the abbey. The 
mutilated efligy of this illustrious warrior is still to be 
seen at Jervaux. 

VII. Isabel Scrope, born 24th August, 1337. She 
married Sir Robert Plumpton, Knight, of Plumpton, 
Yorkshire, who died 19th April, 8 Hen. IV., 1407. 
She died before 1399, leaving issue. 

Sir Stephen Scrope (the second son of Sir Henry 
Scrope, Knight) succeeded his father as second Baron 
Scrope of Masham. He was born about 1345, and was 
forty years of age when his father died ; he was a soldier, 
and served in the train of his father — viz., in 1391 — in 
the wars of France, and distinguished himself by sea 
and land. During his father's lifetime he became a Cru- 
sader, and went to the Holy Land, and was knighted at 
Alexandria a.d. 1365 ; he was at the battle of Najara in 
1367; he was summoned to Parliament from 23rd Nov. 
16 Rich. II., 1393, to 1st Jan., 7 Hen. IV., 1406. His 
will is dated 7th Jan , 1405-6, and was proved on the 
25th of that month. He married before a.d. 1376, 
Marjery, daughter of John Lord Welles, and widow of 
John Lord Huntingfield. He died 25th Jan., 1405-6, 
possessed of large estates in the counties of Essex, 
Notts., Stafford, Lincoln, and York, and was buried 
in St. Stephen's Chapel, in York Cathedral ; he left the 
following children, viz. : — 

I. Sir Henry Scrope (his eldest son, heir, and suc- 
cessor to the title), of whom hereafter. 

II. Sir Geoffrey Scrope Knt., (second son.) He 
received a grant of £20 per annum for his services, 12th 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIKE. 235 

May, 1409. He died 6 Hen. V., 1418, without issue. 

III. Stephen Scrope, Clerk (third son.) He was 
inducted into the prebend of Langtoft, 28th December, 
1399; into the prebend of Bickell, Feb., 1400; into the 
prebend of Driffield, 4th March, 1400-1 ; he was col- 
lated Archdeacon of Richmond the 19th, and installed 
by proxy the 22nd of May, 1400; and was Chancellor 
of Cambridge, 1414. By his will, which is dated 23rd 
August, and proved 7th Sept., 1418, he acknowledges 
his obligation to Archbishop Scrope, and desires to be 
buried near him. He died the 5th of September, 1418. 

IY. Sir John Scrope (fourth son), of whom hereafter. 

Y. William Scrope, Clerk (5th son.) He was inducted 
into the prebend of Skipwith, 22nd July, 1448; and of 
Nunwick in August, 1457 ; he was collated Archdeacon 
of Durham, and Residentiary of the College of St. John 
of Beverley, of Ripon; he died 12th May, 1463, and was 
buried in York Cathedral. 

VI. Maud Scrope, a nun in the Minories in London, 
who was living August, 1418. 

VII. A Daughter, married to Sir Baldwin Frevyll, 
who died 2 Hen. IV., 1400, leaving issue. 

Sir Henry Scrope, (third Baron Scrope of Masham, 
K.G.,) succeeded as son and heir to his father, Sir Stephen 
Scrope. He was summoned to Parliament from 20th 
August, 8 Hen. IV., 1408, to 26th Sept., 2 Henry V., 
1414; was ambassador to the Queen of Denmark, 1406 ; 
to France, 1408 ; to the Duke of Burgundy, 1413 ; and 
again to France in that year; was appointed to nego- 
tiate the King's marriage, in June, 1414; was Treasurer 
of England a.d. 1409. In the 6th Hen. IV., he ob- 
tained a grant from the King of the manors of Thirsk 
and Hovingham. The towns of Hampstead and Hen- 
don, in Middlesex, were assigned to him during his stay 
in London, for lodging and entertainment of his servants 
and horses, in consideration of his great abilities and 
the necessity of his presence in Parliament and Council. 
His will is dated 23rd June, 1415 ; he was beheaded for 



236 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

high treason 5th Aug., 3 Hen. V., 1415, and attainted, 
under the circumstances mentioned in pages 74-8 ; he 
married twice ; his first wife was Philippa, daughter and 
coheir to Sir Guy de Bryan, Jun., widow of Sir John 
Devereaux, whom he married 11th July, 22 Eich. II., 
1398, pursuant to a Papal disj^ensation, on account of 
their being related; she having died 19th Nov., 8 Hen. 
IV., 1406, he married, secondly, Joan, widow of Edmund 
Duke of York, and sister and coheir of Edmund Hol- 
land, Earl of Kent, about Sept., 1411. He had no issue 
by either of his two wives, and was succeeded by his 
brother, Sir John Scro]3e, next referred to. 

Sir John le ScrDpe (fourth Baron Scrope of Masham, 
the fourth son of Sir Stephen Scrope, before mentioned.) 
He succeeded as heir to his brother, Sir Geoffrey, and 
was thirty years of age and upwards in 6 Henry V., 
1418. In his relief for the manor of Driffield, 3 Hen. 
VI., 1424, he is described as brother and heir of Stephen 
le Scrope, Clerk, the brother and heir of Geoffrey le 
Scrope, Knight, brother and heir of Henry le Scrope, 
Knight, son and heir of Stephen. As the first step to a 
restoration of the barony and estates forfeited by his 
brother's attainder, he obtained from the Crown, with 
the assent of the Lords in Parliament, a grant for four 
years of all the lands so forfeited by his brother. After 
a long and protracted struggle, as will be seen by the 
documents set out in the Appendix A. hereto, he was 
ultimately restored to the barony and estates. He was 
summoned to Parliament from 7th Jan., 4 Hen. VI., 
1426, to 26th May, 33 Hen. VI., 1455. He does not 
seem to have been distinguished as a military man, but 
was accounted a prudent and judicious ambassador to 
foreign Courts, and was accordingly employed much in 
that capacity. He was sworn a Privy Councillor 28th 
Feb., 2 Hen. VI., 1424; was ambassador to the King 
of Spain and King of the Eomans, in July, 1428; to 
Scotland, 1429; and was employed in diplomatic mis- 
sions on many subsequent occasions. He served in the 



LOEDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 237 

wars of France ; lie was in high favour with the King, 
and was appointed to the great office of High Treasurer 
of England, 26th Feb., 10 Hen. VI., 1432, which he 
held for two years. His will is dated 1st July, 29 Hen* 
VI., 1451, by which he directed his body to be buried 
in a new tomb made for himself and the Lady Elizabeth, 
his wife, in St. Stephen's Chapel, York, and that at his 
funeral his corpse should be borne by his sons and ser- 
vants (being then at his house), to the said chapel, 
twenty-four poor men clothed in woollen gowns going 
before it, and that the same poor men should, before the 
entrance of that chapel, say their prayers at the diriges, 
as well as the mass, each receiving for their pains Qd. 
Also, that his corpse should be brought into that chapel, 
and laid upon the tomb, and covered with a black 
woollen cloth, and a large cross of white linen, and that 
two pairs of candlesticks of silver-gilt, with his arms, 
which he had lately given to the high altar, should 
be placed upon his tomb, each of them holding a wax 
candle weighing 41b. ; he also gave to John, son and heir 
of Henry Lord Scrope of Bolton, one great brooch of 
gold, of two angels, fashioned like a man's heart. A 
codicil to this will is dated 18th March, 1453; he mar- 
ried twice: his first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of 
Ralph Lord Greystock, who dying without issue, he 
married, secondly, Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Thomas 
Chaworth, of Wiverton, in the county of Notts., Knight, 
whose ancestor, Thomas de Chaworth, had summons to 
Parliament 22 Edw. I., and heiress of Mcola, daughter 
and heiress of Sir Reginald Braybrooke, Knight, who 
survived him eleven years, and died in 1466. She then 
took the veil. The commission to receive her is dated 
18th Dec, 1455, and is directed to the Archbishop of 
York, and to his suffragan, John Bishop of Phillipolis. 
The following is a copy of the oath which was adminis- 
tered to her : — " In the name of God, Amen. I, Eliza- 
beth Scrop, late wife of my worshipful Lord John 
newly Lord Scrope and of Masham, avow to be chaste 



238 MASHAM AND MASHAMSH1RE. 

fro' this time forward, and I behote to live stably in this 
vow during my life ; and in witness whereof I with mine 
own hand made this subscription. ►£ " He died on the 
15th Nov., 34 Hen. VI., 1455, leaving the following 
children by his second marriage, viz : — 

I. Henry Scrope, son and heir, who died young and 
unmarried. 

II. John Scrope, second son, who married Margaret, 
daughter of Thomas sixth Lord Dacre, who was living 
September, 1452. The date of his will is 17th Septem- 
ber, 1452, in which he mentions his sister Eleanor: he 
died on the 18th of the same month, and was buried in 
York Cathedral — he left no issue. 

III. Eleanor Scrone,* who married twice : her first 
husband was Richard Darcy, son and heir-apparent of 
Sir John Darc)^, of Iiyrst, Yorkshire ; he having died in 
his father's lifetime, viz., before 1st June, 1454, she 
married, secondly, William Claxton, of East Briggeford, 
in Nottinghamshire, Esq., about the 29th April, 38th 
Henry VI., 1460 : she died and left issue by her first 
marriage, from whom the Barons Darcy and Conyers are 
descended. 

IV. Anne Scrope, died young. 

V. Elizabeth Scrope, died young. 

VI. Elizabeth Scrope, married Henry fourth Lord 
Scrope of Bolton, who died January, 1459. She was 
living August, 1498 : her son John (whose portrait is 
still preserved) was a stout Yorkist. 

VII. Sir Thomas Scrope, third son, of whom next. 
Sir Thomas Scrope, last above-mentioned, was the fifth 

Baron Scrope of Masham : he was 26 years of age in 
34th Henry VI., 1455, and was 30 years of age at the 
death of his mother, 6th Edward IV., 1466. He was 
summoned to Parliament from the 9th October, 38th 
Henry VI., 1459, to 19th August, 12th Edward IV., 

* She was grandmother to Thomas Lord Darcy, who was beheaded in 
1538, on whose attainder the [third] Barony of Darcy became forfeited. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 239 

1472. Though living, at least as to his earlier years, in 
an unquiet period, he seems, by his quiet disposition, to 
have not only escaped attainder and forfeitures, but to 
have obtained a grant of an annuity of 20 marks for his 
services against the House of York, 19th December, 
38th Henry VI., 1459. In the 37th year of the same 
reign he obtained a license to found a chantry for two 
priests in the family chapel of St. Stephens, in the 
Cathedral Church of York. About 1453 he married 
Elizabeth,* daughter of Ralph Lord Greystock: he died 
15th Edward IY., 1475, leaving the following children, 
viz. : — 

I. Sir Thomas Scrope, his son and heir, who was his 
successor, of whom hereafter. 

II. Henry Scrope, second son, who succeeded his 
brother Sir Thomas in the title, of whom also hereafter. 

III. Ralph Scrope, third son, who succeeded his bro- 
ther Henry Scrope in the title, of whom also hereafter. 

I Y. Geoffrey Scrope, Clerk, fourth son, who succeeded 
his brother in the title, of whom also hereafter. 

Y. Alice Scrope, who married Sir James Strang- 
wayes, of Harlsey Castle, Yorkshire, Knt., by whom 
she left issue. 

YI. Margaret, or Marjery Scrope, who married Sir 
Christopher Danby, Knt., of Thorp Perrow, by whom 
she left issue, for which see the Danby pedigree. 

VII. Elizabeth Scrope, who married Sir Ralph Fitz- 
Randolf,f of Spennithorne, by whom she left issue, now 
represented by the family of Wyvill, of Burton Con- 
stable. 

* Mr. Grainge, in his " Vale of Mowbray," says " He was designed by his 
father to marry a daughter of Lord Grey stoke, but it does not appear that 
the marriage took place, nor is it certainly known to whom he was married." 
I think, however, judging from the Scropes' evidence at Swinton Park, which 
I have seen, and a memorandum upon the subject in the handwriting of the 
late Abstrupus Danby, Esq., that the marriage took place as stated in the 
text. 

t This Note will be found on the next page. 



240 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



Sir Thomas Scrope, (sixth Baron Scrope of Masham,) 
son and heir of Thomas Scrope, the fifth Baron Scrope 
of Masham: he was fifteen years of age in 15th Edward 
IV., 1475 : and obtained livery of his lands 20th Edward 
IV., 1480. In June, 1480, he was a Commissioner of 
Array for the defence of the marches of Scotland : he 
was a Conservator of the Treaty between Richard III. 
and James King of Scotland, in September, 1484 :• he 
was summoned to Parliament, from the 15th November, 
22nd Edward IV., 1482, to 12th August, 7th Henry 
VII., 1492. In 1492 he was retained to serve beyond 
the sea, with one man-at-arms and fifteen archers. He 
married Elizabeth, f daughter of John Neville Marquis 

The following Note belongs to the previous page : — 

f Mr. Barker, in his " Three Days of Wensley- 
dale," says, the Fitz-Randolphs " descended from 
Ralph, third son of Robert, Lord of Middleham } 
by Helewisia de Glanville. Ralph, eighth in des- 
cent from Robert, married Elizabeth, daughter 
and coheiress of Thomas Lord Scrope of Masham, 
and Upsal, and had by her a son who died un- 
married; and four daughters, who all married, 
but one dying without issue, the inheritance 
devolved on Dorothea, wife of Francis Ash of 
Hunton; Alice, wife of Charles Dronfield: and 
Agnes, wife of Francis Wyvill of Little Burton [now called Low Burton, 
near Masham.] By this last marriage the manor [of Spennithorne] and the 
Constable Burton estate passed into the Wyvill family." — See p. 149. 

* It is stated in a MS. in the British Museum (Harl. MSS. 542, fo. 34) 
that " the Lord Scrope of Yposall," as well as " the Lord Scrope of Bolton," 
was among the nobility who came to Kynge Richard," at the Battle of Bos- 
worth Field, which was fought on the 22nd August, 1485. His name, how- 
ever, is not included in the Act of Attainder which was soon afterwards 
passed against the adherents of Richard III., and he seems afterwards to 
have been received into the favour of his victor, Henry VII. 

t She survived her husband, and afterwards became the wife of Sir Henry 
Wentworth, Knt. She by her will dated 7th March, 9th Henry VIIL, 
bequeathed her body to be buried in the Black Friars, in London, by her 
said husband Thomas Lord Scrope, appointing that five trentals [a service of 
thirty masses for the dead] of masses should be sung and said for her soul 
at the place of her burial, and for her husband's soul, and also for the soul of 
Alice their daughter, likewise for the soul of Henry Wentworth, and for the 




ARMS OF FITZ-RAXDOLPH. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 241 

Montague.* He died on the 23rd April, 9 Hen. VII., 
1493, and was buried in the Black-Friars, London, and 
left an only child, viz. : 

Alice Scrope, who was twelve years of age in 9 Hen. 
VII., 1493, and married before Oct. 11th, 1495, Henry,f 

soul of John Marquis Montagu her father, the Lady Isabel his wife, her 
mother, and for all Christian souls. She also gave to the Lady Lucie her 
sister, a Primer and Psalter, which she had of the gift of King Henry the 
Seventh's mother. 

* He was the second son of Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury. Having 
taken part with his brother, the Earl of Warwick, in the attempt to restore 
King Henry VI., he was attainted, and was with him slain at the battle 
of Barnet, on the 14th April, 1471. His eldest son, George Nevill, was 
created Duke of Bedford, with an intention, on the part of the King, to 
marry him to his daughter, the Princess Elizabeth, but was afterwards 
degraded from all his dignities. 

t Mr. Longstaffe, in his " Richmondshire," &c, says: — "Prom John 
Scrope, of Spennithorne, younger brother of the Lord Henry, who for a 
brief space reunited the slackened cords of relationship between the Baro- 
nial lines of Bolton and Upsal, proceeded three great families of Spenni- 
thorne and Danby, Cockerington, in Lincolnshire, and Womersley. The 
house of Cockerington seemed to have inherited all the fame of their elder 
cousins. "The thrice noble Sir Adrian," who died in 1623, was considered 
worthy of this bouncing stanza : — 

" Tombs are but decent lay -books, tliey only keepe 
Their names alive wbo in their wombes do sleepe ; 
But who would pen the virtues of this knight, 
A story, not an epitaph, must write." 

His son, Sir Gervase Scrope, was a staunch Royalist, and received twenty-six 
wounds at the battle of Edge-hill, which caused him, as well they might, 
to be left on the field as dead. His son Adrian, on the day following, with 
great industry, sought for his body and found it senseless, but not lifeless ; 
so that with much care the knight, in a few weeks, was restored to health, 
and survived for nearly ten years afterwards. Fuller says he had this 
information from Sir Gervase himself, who carried his arm in a scarf, and 
looked pale from loss of blood. Another " comely " Sir Adrian Scrope, of 
the Womersley line, was a noted Puritan, took up arms against his King, 
sat as one of his judges, and signed the warrant for his execution. After 
the Restoration, Scrope was in the Speaker's Chamber, as it was thought, to 
surrender himself under the King's proclamation, when Sir Richard Brown 
said to him, " What a sad case we have brought this kingdom into." 
"Why?" said Scrope. "Do you not see," replied Brown, "how it is 
ruined, now that the King is murdered ? " Scrope hastily answered, " I 

R 



242 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

6th Lord Scrope, of Bolton. She died in 1501, leaving 
two children, viz. : 

I. Alice Scrape, who died young. 

II. Elizabeth Scrope. 

Henry Scrope, 7th Baron Scrope of Masham, a 
younger brother of Sir Thomas Scrope, 6th Baron 
Scrope of Masham, succeeded him in the title. He was 
in the wars in Scotland, and fought at the head of the 
men of Mashamshire in the battle of Flodden Field, 
1513. He was summoned to Parliament on the 28th 
November, 3 Henry VIII., 1511. He died before 6 
Henry VIII., 1514, and left no issue. He was succeeded 
in the title by his younger brother, 

Ralph Scrope, 8th Baron Scrope of Masham. He was 
summoned to Parliament 6 Henry VIII., 1514. His will 
is dated 10th August, 1515, and was proved on the 18th 
March following. He bequeathed his body to be buried 
before our Lady of Piety in Rivaulx Abbey, together 
with a legacy of £20 to that house. He also mentions 
therein Johanna, his wife, Geffrey Scrope, Clerk, his 
brother and next heir. He died 17th September, 1515, 
and was buried at Rivaulx Abbey, as directed by his 
will. He left no issue, and was succeeded in the title by 
his younger brother, 

Geoffrey Scrope, Clerk, 9th and last Baron Scrope, of 
Masham. He was born in 1485, and succeeded to the 
Barony in 1515. He died in 1517, aged thirty-three 
years, without issue, when the dignity fell into abeyance 

will not make you my confessor ;" an expression which was construed at his 
trial into an attempt to justify his conduct ; and it was supposed influenced 
the judgment from perpetual imprisonment and confiscation (as in other 
cases), to execution. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered, at Charing- 
Cross, 17th Oct., 1660; but his quarters were given to his friends, and not 
exposed. Upon his trial he nobly observed, in allusion to Cooper, after- 
wards Earl of Shaftesbury, and others who were sitting with Lord Chief 
Baron Bridgman on the Bench : — " My Lord, I say this, if I have been 
misled, I am not a single person that have been misled. My Lord, I could 
say (but I think it doth not become me to say so), that I see a great many 
faces at this time that were misled as well as myself." 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 243 

between the issue of his three sisters, Alice Strangways,* 
Margaret, or Marjery Danby, f and Elizabeth Fitz- 
Randolph ; J and is still in abeyance* 

Arms. — Azure, a bend or. 

Crest. — Issuing out of a ducal coronet, a crab. 

* Alice Strangwayes was the wife of Sir James Strangwayes, of Harlsey- 
castle, Knt. She left a son, Sir Thomas Strangwayes, and other children, 
but I believe her issue ultimately became extinct, so that the claim to the 
Barony of Scrope, of Masham, which is in abeyance, now rests with the 
representatives of the two families of Margery Danby and Elizabeth Fitz- 
Randolph, of whom hereafter. 

f The present representative of Margery Danby it will be seen by the 
following pedigree, is Charles John Henry Mundy, Esq., of Ormsby, in 
Lincolnshire. 

THE MUNDY PEDIGKEE. 

Catherine, the daughter of Christopher Danby, Esq., (the then repre- 
sentative of Margery Danby, as will be seen on referring to the Danby 
pedigree, post), married Sir Francis Armitage, of Kirklees, Bart., by whom 
she had a son, 

Sir John Armitage, Bart., who married Margaret Thornhill, and had by 
her (with other children who all died without issue), a daughter, 

Catherine Armitage, who married Christopher Tancred, Esq., of Whixley, 
who was the son and heir of Christopher Tancred, Esq., of Whixley, by 
Dorothy, the daughter of Sir Christopher Wyvill, Bart., (then one of the 
representatives of Elizabeth Fitz-Randolph, above mentioned). She had by 
her said husband (amongst other issue) a daughter, 

Elizabeth Tancred, who married W Dobson, Esq., of York, and 

by him had a daughter, 

Ann Dobson, who married W. B. Mussingberd, Esq., of Ormsby, in 
Lincolnshire, by whom she had a son, 

Charles Burrell Mussingberd, Esq., who married Ann Blackall, by whom 
he had a daughter, 

Harriet Mussingberd, who married Charles Godfrey Mundy, Esq., of 
Markeaton, Derbyshire, by whom she had (amongst other issue) a son, 

Charles John Henry Mundy, Esq., of Ormsby, in Lincolnshire, who is 
now (1863) living, and not only now represents Margery Danby, one of the 
above co-heiresses to the Barony, as above shewn, but also represents 
Elizabeth Fitz-Randolph, the other co-heiress, through Sir Christopher 
Wyvill, Bart., as will be shewn in the following note. 

X Elizabeth Fitz-Randolph was the wife of Sir Ralph Fitz-Randolph, 
Knt., of Spennithorne, Lord of Middleham, by whom she had a son, who 
died unmarried, and four daughters, (one of whom died without issue) who 



244 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIKET. 



DANBY OF SWINTON-PARK. 

LINEAGE. 

^tf^l^fl ^vlif John Danby, Lord of Great and 

l^J? f^J Ejf Little Danby, or Danbie, and of lands 

ff^BS^MM in Thirsk, Hutton, and Scowston, had 

P- yil="-IM--tt^-l an on ^ daughter and sole heiress, viz. : 

[jj^KaM|^^i!i Arme trade de Danby, who suc- 

W^^ESj^W ceeded her father in his estates. She 

^^j^^p^ was given in marriage by William the 

^r Conqueror to Edmund Stringent, or 

Strograve, a soldier of fortune who accompanied him into 

England, and to whom he also gave certain lands in 

Thirsk. She had by this marriage a son and successor,, 

viz. : 

John Stringent, or Strograve, who was the first who 
called himself of Danby, after the lands which he had in 

all married, viz., Dorothea, wife of Anthony Ash, of Hunton ; Alice, wife 
of Charles Dronfield, and 

Agnes Fitz-Randolph, who married Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, Knt., M.P. for 
Ripon in 1553, and by him had a son, 

Christopher Wyvill, Esq., who married Margaret, Daughter of the Hon. 
John Scrope, younger son of Henry, Lord Scrope of Bolton, by Elizabeth, 
his wife, daughter of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, by whom he 
had a son and successor, 

Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, Bart., who married Magdalen, daughter of Sir 
Christopher Danby, Knt., (for which see Danby pedigree, post), and by her 
had a son and successor, 

Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, Bart., who married Isabel, the daughter and 
heiress of Sir William Gascoigne, Knt., and had by her a son and successor,. 

Sir Christoper Wyvill, Bart., of Constable Burton, and M.P. for Richmond, 
who married Ursula, daughter of Conyers, Lord D'Arcy, created Earl of 
Holderness, and by her had (amongst other issue) a daughter, 

Dorothy Wyvill, who married Christopher Tancred, Esq., of Whixley, by 
whom she had a son, 

Christopher Tancred, Esq., of Whixley, who married Catherine Armitage, 
as mentioned in the last note. 

From this marriage is descended, as above described, 

Charles John Henry Mundy, Esq., of Ormsby, in Lincolnshire, who, it 
will be seen, now represents the two remaining co-heiresses to the Barony 
of Scrope of Masham» 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 245 

right of his mother. He married Margaret, a daughter 
of Thomas Catherall, by whom he had (amongst other 
issue) a son, viz. : 

Thomas Danby, Esq., who succeeded his father, and 
married a daughter of Edmund Onley, or Ouldley, by 
whom he had a son and successor, viz.,: 

Edmund Danby, Esq., who married Mary, daughter 
of Thomas Fitz-Osborne, by whom he had issue, viz. : 

I. Thomas, his eldest son and successor, of whom 
hereafter. 

II. John, his second son. 

III. Ann. 

Thomas Danby, Esq., (the last mentioned,) succeeded 
his father and married a daughter of William Kirkeham, 
and by her had issue, viz. : 

I. Richard, his son and heir, of whom hereafter. 

II. William. 

III. John. 

Richard Danby, Esq., (the last mentioned, ) succeeded 
his father and married Jane, or Joane, the daughter of 
Robert Conyers, and by her had a son, viz. : 

Robert Danby, Esq., who succeeded his father, and 
married Cassandra, a daughter of Edward Thurland, 
Esq., and by her had a son and successor, viz. : 

William Danby, Esq., who married Anne, the daugh- 
ter of Sir Thomas Greene, Knt., by whom he had issue, 

I. Thomas, his son and heir, of whom hereafter. 

II. John. 

III. Elizabeth, the wife of Gerard Salvia, of North 
Driffield. 

Thomas Danby, Esq., of Yafford, (above mentioned,) 
succeeded his father, and married Mary, the daughter of 
Sir Robert Tanfield, Knt., of Danby, by whom he left 
the following children, viz. : 

I. William Danby, Esq., Lord of Danby and Yafford, 
who married Catherine, only daughter and sole heiress 
of John Bretwell, Lord of Yafford, 1394, by whom he 
had a son and successor, viz. : 



246 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

I. Robert Danby, Lord of Great and Little Danby, 
and Yafford, who married the heiress of John Ayslebie, 
and whose son and successor was 

I. Ralph or James Danby,* who married Margaret, 
daughter and sole heiress of Sir Richard Cogniers, Knt., 
of Cowton, (in whose right he had South-moors.) He 
was slain at the Battle of Bosworth Field. He had by 
his said wife three daughters and co-heiresses, viz. : 

I. Margaret, or Margery,* the wife of Ralph Rokeby, 
Esq., of Moreton-Mortham, by whom she had the follow- 
ing children, viz. : 

I. Ralph Rokeby, a lawyer. 

II. A daughter, the wife of John Scrope. 

III. John Rokeby, LL.D., a learned divine. 

* I believe that the name of this person was James, and not Ralph, as 
invariably stated in the pedigrees of the Danby and some other families. In 
an Inquisition post mortem, taken at Richmond on the 5th June, 23 Henry 
VII., 1507, on the death of James Danby, Esq., the jurors found that James 
Danby, Esq., was seized in his demesne as of fee on the day on which he died 
of one messuage and half a carucate of land and two bovates of land with 
the appurtenances, in Yafford, in the county of York, &c. ; and that he died 
on the 13th July, 2 Richard III., 1484 : and that Margery, now the wife of 
Ralph Rokeby, Alice, late the wife of John Acclom, and Margaret, now the 
wife of James Strangwys, of Sneton, jun., are his daughters and next heirs; 
and that the said Margery was then of the age of 15 years and upwards, — 
and that the said Alice was then of the age of 12 years and upwards, — and 
that the said Margaret was then of the age of eight years and upwards. — 
JEsct. Bund. 24 Henry VII., No. 2. It appears, however, by another Inqui- 
sition post mortem, taken 33 and 34 Henry VIII., No. 10, on the death of 
Margery Rokby, that she is described as " the widow and relict of Ralph 
Rokby, deceased, one of the three daughters and heiresses of Ralph Danby, 
also deceased." How to reconcile these two Inquisitions, I am at a loss to 
tell. 

* According to the first of the above Inquisitions her Christian name was 
Margery, which fact is confirmed by her will, dated 27 th September, 1540, 
which has been published by the Surtees Society amongst the Richmond 
Wills. She is the person referred to in the poem of " The Felon Sew of 
Rokeby and the Fryers of Richmond." 

" Then mistress Rokeby came anon, 
And for her [the Sew] brought shee meate^full soone, 

The Sew came unto her, 
She gyve her meate upon the flower." 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 247 

IV. Richard Rokeby, a soldier. 

V. Henry Rokeby. 

VI. Christopher Rokeby. 

VII. Jane, the wife of Tocketts. 

II. Agnes, or Margaret,* the wife of James Strang- 
wayes, of Ormsby, by whom she had issue Sir Richard 
Strangwayes. 

III. Alice, the wife of John Aclam, Esq., of Moreby, 
(son of Richard Acklam,) by whom she had issue, viz. : 

I. Margaret, the wife of Thomas Hawksworth, Esq., 
by whom she had issue, 

II. Ellen, the wife of Marmaduke Thwaites, of Little 
Smeeton. 

III. Anne, the wife of Thomas Metham, of Barnshill, 
by whom she had issue, 

II. Richard Danby. 

III. Ralph Danby. 

IV. John Danby, of Leake, who married Margaret, 
the second daughter and co-heiress of William Moston, 
of Henscott, in Warwickshire, and of Caville, near How- 
den, in Yorkshire, by whom he had a son, viz. : 

I. James Danby, of Braworth, who married a daugh- 
ter of Walworthe, and by her had issue, viz. : 

I. William Danby, of Leake, who married Margaret, 
daughter of Gilbert or Roger Leigh, Esq., of Middleton, 
by Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of John Nevill, Esq., 
of Cudworth, by whom he had a son, viz. : 

I. James Danby, of Braworth, who married a daughter 
f Warde, by whom he had issue, viz : — 

I. Thomas Danby, of Leake, who married Ann, 
daughter and co-heiress of Ralph Anger, by whom he 
had issue, for which see foot note.f 

* Her name was Margaret, as will appear by the first of the above Inqui- 
sitions. For the issue of this marriage see 1st vol. of Burke's Commoners^ 
page 136— Strangwayes of Well. 

f PEDIGREE OF THE DANBTS OF LEAKE. 

Thomas Danby, of Leake, who married Anne, the daughter and co-heiress 



248 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIKE. 

II. William Danby, of Knaresbrough, who married 
Katherine, daughter of Richard Greene, of Newby, and 
by her had issue, viz : — 

I. Christopher. 

II. Thomas. 

III. Henry. 

IV. John. 

V. William. 

VI. Francis. 

VII. Myles. 

VIII. Walter. 

IX. Alice. 



of Ralph Anger, by whom he had issue, viz : 

I. Thomas Danby, his eldest son, of whom hereafter. 

II. Miles Danby, who married and had issue. 

III. John Danby, of Boroughbridge, who married and had issue. 

IV. William Danby, who died unmarried. 

V. Francis Danby. 

VI. Edmund Danby, of Borougbridge, who married and had issue. 

VII. Elizabeth, the wife of Michael Metcalf, of Little Otterington. 

VIII. Jane, the wife of Thomas Middleton, of Middleton, in Cleveland. 

IX. Mary, the wife of Thomas Appleton, of Great Smeaton. 

Thomas Danby, (above mentioned) of Braworth, (who died in the lifetime 
of his father) married Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Cams, Esq., of 
Halghton, in Lancashire, by whom he left issue, viz : 

I. John Danby, of Great Leake, Esq., his eldest son, of whom hereafter. 

II. Thomas Danby, who was slain at the Battle of Naseby, in the service 
of King Charles I., 14th June, 1644. 

III. Christopher Danby. 

John Danby, (above mentioned) of Great Leake, who married, firstly, 
Mary, daughter of William Swynbourne, of Cap-Heaton, in Yorkshire, by 
whom he had an only daughter, viz : 

I. Elizabeth, who married 1st, James Shafto, of Tanfield-Leigh, Durham ; 
2ndly, William Salvin, of Brandon-hall. He married, secondly, Mary, 
daughter of Anthony Meynell, of Kilvington, by whom he had issue, viz : 

II. Anthony Danby, who was twelve years of age on August 23rd, 1665. 

III. Joseph Danby, who was then seven years of age. 

IV. James Danby, who was then six years of age. 

V. John Danby, who was then four years of age. 

VI. Elizabeth Danby, who was then ten years of age. 

VII. Agnes Danby, who was then three years of age. 

VIII. Ursula Danby, who was then one year of age. 



LOEDS OF MASHAMSHIKE. 249 

X. Mary, the wife of William Haxby. 

II. Christopher Danby, of Scarborough. 

III. Eobert Danby,* of Kounton, or Rainton, near 
Topcliffe. 

IV. Leonard Danby, Parson of Cowsby. 
Y. Anne Danby. 

VI. Barbara, the wife of Thomas Allen. 

V. Sir Robert Danby, Knt., the ancestor of the 
Danbys of Swinton, therefore of him I proceed next to 
speak. 

Sir Robert Danby, Knt., was brought up to the pro- 
fession of the law, and, as his subsequent history shews, 
became a very eminent lawyer. His name occurs as an 
Advocate, in the Year Books, as early as in the year 
1431. On the 14th February, 1443, he is therein 
styled Serjeant, soon after which he was appointed one 
of the King's Serjeants. On the 28th June, 1452, he 
was raised to the Bench, as one of the Judges of the 
Court of Common Pleas, and on the 14th May, 1461, 

* PEDIGREE OF THE DANBYS OF KIRKBY KNOWLE. 

Robert Danby, of Rounton, or Rainton, near Topeliffe, had a son, 

William Danby, of Kirkby Knowle, who died in 1577, and left (amongst 
other issue) a son, 

Edmund Danby, who died in 1587-8, and left (amongst other issue) a 
son, 

Henry Danby, who had an only son, 

George Danby, of Kirkby Knowle, afterwards of Upleatham, and then of 
Gisborough. He married Elizabeth Crawe, of Upleatham. He died in 1670, 
and left (amongst other issue) a son, 

Roger Danby, of Gisborough, who married Abigail Nicholson. He died 
in 1691, and left (amongst other issue) a son, 

William Danby, of Gisborough, who left (amongst other issue) a son, 

Roger Danby, of Gisborough, who married Jane, daughter of Joseph 
Anderson, M.D., by whom he left an only son, 

William Danby, who married Elizabeth Thompson. He died in 1822, 
aged eighty-one, leaving an only surviving son, 

William Danby, Esq., formerly of Gisborough, but now of Park House, 
Exeter, who was born 15th August, 1807, and is now (1863) living. 



250 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

(immediately after the accession of Edward IY. to the 
throne) he was made Chief Justice of that court. Sir 
Robert had the reputation of being an excellent judge, 
and his judgments have at all times been looked upon 
with great respect, and held as authorities. In the year 
1471 he was a Knight. It appears by a letter from the 
Earl of Salisbury, in the Paston Correspondence, that 
Sir Robert was a decided Yorkist, as was also his son 
and successor, Sir James Danby, Knight. After he had 
acquired considerable wealth by his practice, he pur- 
chased Thorpe-Perrow, which soon afterwards became 
the residence of himself and family, and continued to be 
used as such by his descendants, down to the year 1688, 
when it was sold by Sir Abstrupus Danby, Knight, to Sir 
William Blackett, through whom it has since passed into 
the hands of Mark Millbank, Esq., its present owner. 
He married, first, Katherine, daughter of Ralph Fitz- 
Randal ; who, dying without issue, he married, secondly, 
Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of William Aislaby, 
in whose right he held lands, &c, in Durham, Darlington, 
Gateshead, &c. He was also possessed of the Manor of 
Scruton, which he had by exchange with his brother 
William, Lord of Danby and Yafibrth, for lands in 
Great and Little Danby. He came by his death by com- 
mitting suicide, and that too after a very ingenious 
fashion. He directed his Park-keeper to shoot any per- 
son whom he should find on that night in the park, who 
would not stand and speak when called upon. Having 
given these directions, he went himself into the park on 
that same night, and being met and challenged by the 
park-keeper, he refused to stand or speak, whereupon 
the keeper, acting strictly according to his orders, but 
little dreaming that it was his master, fired at him, and 
shot him dead. This melancholy occurrence took place 
in the year 1472, and, as it is believed, at Thorp-Perrow. 
There is a very good portrait of the Chief Justice at 
Swinton Park, by an unknown artist. He left by his 
second marriage, the following children, namely : 



L0KDS OF MASHAMSH1RE. 251 

I. Sir James Danby, Knight, his successor, of whom 
I speak presently. 

II. Richard Danby, of Crayke, who married Joane, 
the daughter of Sir John Roecliffe, Knight, a Baron of 
the Exchequer, and by her had issue, namely : 

I. Ralph, or Richard, of Great Langton, who married 
four wives in succession; his first wife was Margaret, 
daughter of Phillips; his second wife was Mar- 
gery, daughter of Swales: his third wife was 

Margaret, daughter of Kayes; and his fourth 

wife was Dorothy Weresdale : he had no issue by his 
first and third wives; by his second wife he had two 
sons, namely: 

I. William Danby, of Great Langton, (living 1585). 
He married Dorothy, daughter of Brian Eglesfield, of 
Hude, by whom he had an only daughter, namely : 

Grace, who married William, son and hen of Francis 
Tankard, of Peynell, by whom she had a daughter, 
namely : 

Dorothy, who married Sir Henry Jenkins, Knt. She 
was two years old in 1585. 

II. Lancelot Danby, of Great Langton, who married 
Rosamond, daughter of ..... Keyes, of near 
Leeds, and by whom he had issue, namely : 

I. Christopher; II. Ralph; III. Thomas; IV. Martin; 
V. Robert; VI. Magdalen; VII. Susan; VIII. Mary; 
IX. Grace. 

The above mentioned Ralph, or Richard Danby, had 
by his fourth wife, the following issue, namely : 

III. Peter Danby, of Scotton, near Knaresborough. 

IV. Jane, the wife of Thomas Pybus, of Great Fen- 
cote. 

V. Mary, the wife of Richard Gale, of Scruton. 



II. Thomas Danby. 



* 



* This Thomas Danby is usually stated in the Danby pedigrees to have 
died without issue; he is, however, described in Harl. MS., 1550, fo. 147, 
" Visitations of Lincolnshire, 1564 — 1592," as having been standard bearer 



252 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Ill *. the wife of Hall, of Laverton, 

near Sherborne. 

III. Margaret, who married Christopher Barton. 

IV. Margery, who married Sir John Salvine, Knt., 
(who was dead in 1496). She was living at York in 
1496, and was dead in 1499. In her will dated in 1496, 
she mentions her sister Elizabeth, her niece Langton, 
her goddaughter Margery Danby, her sister Langton, 
her sister Barton, her brother Langton, and her brother 
Eichard Danby. She had by her said husband a son, 

Kichard, who was living in 1496. 

Sir James Danby, Knt., of Thorp-Perrow, above men- 
tioned, succeeded his father, Sir Robert Danby, Knight, 
in his estates. He was a valiant soldier ; and, espousing 
the cause of the White Rose of York, he was in 1482, 
made a Knight Banneret, by Richard Duke of Glouces- 
ter, afterwards King Richard III., in Hutton-field, near 
Berwick. He had the honour of being present and 
taking part in the coronation of Richard III. and his 
Queen Anne, on the 6th July, 1483.* He married 

to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, at the Battle of Flodden Field, and that he 
married .... Marcall, of Marcall, in Lincolnshire, by whom he had the fol- 
lowing children, viz : I. Symonde ; II. James, (who had a base son) ; III. Ann, 
the wife of Thomas Savill, of Copley ; and IV. Dorothy, the wife of Surgant 
Roksby, of Skyres, in Yorkshire. Symond Danbye, above mentioned, is also 
therein described as a merchant of Hull, and as having married Ann, daughter 
of John Billesby, of Billesby, in Lincolnshire, by whom he had the follow- 
ing children, viz : I. Grace, the wife of John Ashburn, of Umberstone, in 
Lincolnshire; II. Thomas Danby, of Billesby, in Lincolnshire; III. Mar- 
garet, the wife of Richard Dyxon, of Hull; and IV. Andrew Danby, of 
Grymsby. It is further stated therein, that the last mentioned Thomas 
Danby, of Billesby, married Jane, daughter of William Armstrong, of Corby, 
in Lincolnshire, by whom he had a son, Thomas, who died young. This 
family bore for arms, ar., three chevronells, braced in the base of the es- 
cutcheon sa., on a chief of the second three mullets of the first, (the same as 
the Danbys of Swinton Park), but bearing a crescent for a difference, sig- 
nifying that the family were descended from a second son of the house of 
Danby. 

* See Bentley's " Excerpta Historica," page 384. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 25$ 

before the 22nd December, 6 Edward IV., 1466, Agnes, 
the daughter and sole heiress of Sir John Langton, 
Knight, of Farnley, near Leeds, by a daughter and co- 
heiress of Robert Neville, Esq., of Gargrave. By this 
marriage he acquired, with other large possessions, the 
manor of Farnley,* which remained in the Danby family 
until the year, 1799, when it was sold by the late Wil- 
liam Danby, Esq., for little more than the value of the 
timber upon it, to Mr. James Armitage, an opulent mer- 
chant, in Leeds. Sir James died on the 9th October, 
12 Henry VII., 1496, (his wife having survived him till 
the 26th March, 6 Henry VIIL, 1514.) By his will, 
which is dated the 16th March, 1496, and proved at 
York on the 28th June, 1497, he desired, if he died in 
the parish of Leeds, to be buried in the Church at Leeds, 
and mentions the following persons, &c. : — The Master 
and Parson of Well ; such heirlooms as left by my father 
at Thorpe, which appears by my father's testament; 

Roger Dodisworth, Park at Farnley ; a messe-booke 

worth 40s. to be bought and delivered to the chapel at 
Yafford; my wife Dame Annes Danby; William Met- 
calfe ; Christopher my son ; my brother Richard Danby ; 
William Calverley, Esq. ; Sir Thomas Danby, Parson, of 
Tenerington, and Edmund Malliverey. He left by his 
said wife two sons, namely : 

I. Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, his successor, of 
whom presently. 

II. James Danby, who is mentioned in the will of his 
brother, which is dated 16th March, 1517. 

Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, of Farnley and Thorp- 
Perrow, succeeded his father in his estates, and ulti- 

* Thoresby, in his " Ducatus Leodiensis," (edit. 1715) page 201.^ says*. 
" This is indisputable that Agnes, daughter and sole heir of the last John 
Langton, Esq., brought this lordship of Farnley to the ancient family of the- 
Danbys, together with the lordships of Akenshaw and Howton, together- 
with Long-Villiers, Heaton, Mowthorp, Langton, West Lutton, and an, 
estate at York." — See also Inquisition post mortem, taken at her death. Ao.- 
6, Henry VIIL, No. 34. 



254 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

mately became, in right of his wife, the first Lord of 
Mashamshire. He was born in 1468, and married Mar- 
gery, the second daughter of Thomas le Scrope, fifth 
Lord Scrope of Masham and Upsall, and one of the 
co-heiresses to that Barony at the decease of her brother 
Geoffrey, the ninth and last Lord. — (See the Scrope pedi- 
gree ante, p. 242). By this marriage, the Danbys ac- 
quired, with other manors and extensive possessions, the 
manor of Masham and Mashamshire. He died on the 
17th March, 9 Henry VIII., 1517. In his will, which 
is dated the 16th March, 1517, and proved on the 10th 
November, 1518, he directed his body to be buried at 
Leeds, and mentions his father, mother, wife, son, (Chris- 
topher), and his brother James Danby. According to 
Thoresby's "Ducatus Leodiensis" (edit. 1715) Appen- 
dix page 573, there was formerly in the south quire of 
the Leeds Parish Church, the following inscription: — 
" Orate pro animabus Christopheri Danby, militis, <fy 
Domina Margeria uxore sua, ac jiliorum <$f filice, qui 
istam fenestram fieri fecerunt, anno Dom. m.ccccc.xxi." 
And also, besides the arms, were effigies of a knight 
kneeling, with his wife. He left by his said wife a son 
and successor, namely : 

Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, Lord of Farnley, and 
also Lord of Mashamshire in right of his mother. He 
was a minor of fifteen years of age when his father died, 
and was in wardship to King Henry VIII. He was 
High Sheriff of Yorkshire 37 Henry VIII., 1545, and 
was a benefactor to the Leeds Parish Church, which ap- 
pears, on account of its vicinity to Farnley, to have been 
at this time the burial-place of the family. He married 
in 1514 (when only twelve years old) Elizabeth, the 
third daughter of Kichard Neville, second Lord Latimer,* 

* Richard Neville, second Lord Latimer, had his seat at Snape Castle, 
and was therefore near neighbour to Sir Christopher Danby, who resided at 
Thorp-Perrow (the father of the juvenile husband). This Lord Latimer was 
one of the Commanders of the King's Army, in the 1st Henry VIL, 1486, 
at the Battle of Stoke, when Lambert Simnel (the Pretender, who honoured 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 255 

of Snape Castle, and sister to John Neville, third Lord 
Latimer,* whose second wife was Catherine Parr,f after- 
wards the wife of King Henry VIII. ; also sister to Susan, 
the wife of Richard Norton, the leader of the Rebellion 
of 1569, known in history as " The Rising of the North." 
It will be seen {ante page 106) that a peerage, and a pen- 
sion to support the dignity, were offered to him by King 

Masham with a visit, as lias been stated ante p. 84,) and the Earl of Lincoln, 
and his adherents, sustained a signal defeat, and the Pretender himself 
taken prisoner. He was also a Commander in the English Army, under the 
Earl of Surrey, which marched to the relief of Norham Castle, then invested 
by the Scots. And he also acquired high reputation at the Battle of Flodden 
Field, mentioned ante p. 89. 

* John Neville, third Lord Latimer, also resided at Snape Castle. He 
joined the Insurrection known as the "Pilgrimage of Grace," and was 
appointed by the rebels in that insurrection along with Lord Scrope, of 
Bolton, Lord Lumley, and Lord Darcy, their Deputies to treat with the Duke 
of Norfolk (who commanded the army sent against them) when they suc- 
ceeded so well in their negotiations, that all concerned in that affair were 
allowed to return to their homes without being further molested. His son 
John Neville, the fourth and last Lord Latimer, appears not to have followed 
in the footsteps of his father in matters of religion, having turned Protestant, 
and therefore did not join the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland, 
in the Rebellion of 1569. This his reticence appears to have given great 
offence to the Earls and their party, who accordingly took their revenge 
upon him, by entering and spoiling his house at Snape, from which they took 
property of great value, as well as his horses and cattle from his park and 
grounds at Snape, to his no little mortification. I have already [ante p. 108) 
alluded to the serious affray which this last-mentioned Lord had with his 
cousin Sir Thomas Danby (between whom a very bad feeling appears for a 
long time to have existed). To such a length had this quarrel gone that he 
nearly ran through one of Sir Thomas's men with a rapier, for which the 
Archbishop of York, in 1563, was about to complain to the Queen, of his 
" evell and misorderede" life, and of his not being a "man of government/' 
which meant that he was in such a state as not to be competent to govern , 
or take care of himself. 

t Catherine Parr was a daughter of Sir Thomas Parr, and was born at 
Kendall. She was blessed with four husbands. Her first was Mr. Burghe 
— her second was John Neville, third Lord Latimer (the father of the hot- 
brained Lord just alluded to) — her third was King Henry VIII. — and her 
fourth, and last, was Admiral Seymour, brother of the Protector Somerset? 
by which last marriage she became aunt to King Edward VI., who was 
already her son-in-law. 



256 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Henry VIII., but were declined. In a Commission of 
Array for the County of York, made in the 36th Henry 
VIII., 1545, during the war with France and Scotland, 
he was required to provide and send ninety footmen as 
his contribution to the force. On the 22nd September, 
1549, he presented as patron of the living of Thornton- 
Watlass. He is described in several documents as living 
at New Park, in the County of York, and especially so in 
the award made between him and Lord Derby, dated 5th 
October, 1570, relating to the disputed boundary between 
Mashamshire and the parish of Kirkby-Malzeard. Sir 
Christopher died in the year 1571, leaving a will, which 
was dated the 27th March, 1568, and proved in the 
Court of the Dean and Chapter of York, on the 19th 
March, 1571. In this will he thus makes mention of the 
following persons, viz : " Elizabeth, my wife — to every 
one of my daughters, four hundred marks each — my 
daughter Magdalen, wife of Marmaduke Wyvell; Dame 
Ann Paycocke; John Mallory; Katherine Maulivery, 
daughter of Sir Edmund Maulivery; my son James 
Danby; my son Marmaduke; my son William; my son 
Sir Thomas Danby (whom he appoints Executor) ; 
Thomas Danby, son of the said Sir Thomas." Accor- 
ding to the Warburton MSS., in the British Museum, 
No. 1394, page 327, there was formerly the following 
inscription, " In the Churche of Leedes : ' Orate p. bono 
statu Xpoferi Danby Armigeri, et Elizabethae uxoris 
ejus. A . D'ni. m.ccccc. tricessimo. 1 Below which were 
the figures of iij. sonnes and six daughters: and the 
arms of the Danbys, with helmet and crest, were painted 
on the wall of the church, as were also the arms, &c, of 
the Langton family." Sir Christopher left by his wife the 
following children, viz: 

I. Sir Thomas Danby, Knt., his successor, of whom 
hereafter. 

II. Dorothy, the wife of Sir John Neville, Knt., of 
Liversedge, a noble scion of an ancient stock who traced 
their pedigree from one of the Saxon Kings of England. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRS. £5? 

He was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 3rd Elizabeth, 
1560, and in the 12th Elizabeth, 1569, was convicted of 
High Treason, for having joined the Earls of North- 
umberland and Westmoreland, in the Rebellion of 1569, 
before alluded to, whereby all his lands, &c. (which 
were very considerable) were forfeited. He appears to 
have taken a very active part in the Rebellion, from its 
commencement, and, according to the confesssion made 
by the Earl of Northumberland, previous to his exe- 
cution, was not only privy to, and took an active part in, 
the planning of the conspiracy, but joined the Earls at 
Brancepeth, previous to the rising. After the failure of 
the Rebellion he escaped to Hume Castle, in Scotland, 
where he was sheltered for some time by Lord Hume. 
He was still at Hume Castle on the 17th April, 1570, 
but shortly afterwards escaped from thence to Flanders, 
where he was joined by his wife to share his sorrows 
with him in his adversity. In 1571, he was at Lovaine, 
and from thence "departed towards Rome." He be- 
came a pensioner of the King of Spain, who allowed him 
£60 a year for the support of himself, his wife, and 
children. Previous, however, to his departure for the 
continent, every effort was made by his devoted wife to 
procure his pardon, or, at all events, to save his life, but 
without effect. In a letter from Sir T. Gargrave to 
Cecil, dated 13th February, 1670, accompanying her 
examination taken before him and Sir Hugh Savile, he 
says, " Lady Neville is left with ten children in a very 
4 pore estate,' and she thinks that c yf her husband might 
have his lyfe, he would come in and submit hymself to 
imprisonment, or otherwise, as shuld please the Queenes 
majastie,' : but this too proved of no avail with the re- 
morseless Queen. His name is included in the list of 
" Names of those that were endyted for the conspiracy 
of treason, 1 Sep. An. 11 Eliz., at Topclyf, in the County 
of Yorke," as " John Nevill, of Lyversedge, Knight," — 
also, in " An acte for the confirmation of th' Attaynders 
of Charles, Earle of Westmoreland, Thomas, Earle 



258 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

of Northumberland, and others — xiij. Eliz. c. xvi." — 
as " Sir John Nevill, late of Leversedge, county of 
York, Knight. 7 ' His estates having thus become 
forfeited, Queen Elizabeth, in July, 1573, granted 
them out to Edward Carey, one of the grooms of the 
Privy Chamber, and others ; whilst she, with her usual 
generosity (?) and liberality (?) in February, 1574, 
granted to " Robert Nevill, Gent.," his son, out of the 
father's large possessions, (which had thus fallen to her), 
the miserable pittance of £20 a year, and that only du- 
ring her pleasure, to be paid by the Receiver of York, 
out of Leversedge. Sir John Nevill himself, however, 
was allowed to remain to the end of his days, and to die 
an exile from his country, in order to gratify the revenge- 
ful spirit of a Queen, whose soul was as much a stranger 
to the true knowledge of the attributes of mercy, as her 
heart was to the better and finer feelings usually pos- 
sessed by her sex : 

" The quality of mercy Is not strain'd ; 
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven 
Upon the place beneath ; it is twice bless'd ; 
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes i 
T is mightiest in the mightiest ; it becomes 
The throned monarch better than his crown : 
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, 
The attribute to awe and majesty, 
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings % 
But mercy is above this sceptred sway : 
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings : 
It is an attribute to God himself; 
And earthly power doth then show Mkest God's,, 
When mercy seasons justice. 

consider this, — 

That, in the course of j ustice, none of us 
Should see salvation : we do pray for mercy ; 
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render 
The deeds of mercy." — Shakspere. 

Lady Neville had by her husband the following chil- 
dren, viz: 

I. Robert Neville. 

II. A daughter, the wife of Mr. Aiscoughe. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 259 

III. A daughter, the wife of Mr. Cholmley — and 
seven other children. 

III. Margaret, the wife of Christopher Hopton, Esq., 
of Armley-hall, who left issue. 

IV. Margery, the wife of Christopher Mallory, Esq.,* 
of Wothersome, in the West Riding, son and heir of Sir 
William Mallory, Knt., of Studley, by Jane, daughter 
of Sir John Norton, Knt., who died without issue. 

V. Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Wentworth, Esq., 
of Ashby, second son of Sir John Wentworth, of Elms- 
halL 

VI. Mary, the wife of Sir Edward Maleverer, of Arne- 
cliffe, who left issue. 

VII. Anne, the wife of Walter Calverley, heir to Sir 
William Calverley, Knt., of Calverley, f who died leaving 
the following children, viz : 

I. William Calverley, who succeeded his father, and 
married and left issue. 

II. Christopher Calverley, who was living in 1568. 

III. Edmund Calverley, who married and had issue. 

VIII. Magdalen, the wife of Marmaduke Wyvill, Esq., 
who died leaving issue ; from whom the Wyvills of Con- 
stable-Burton, are descended. — See Burke's "Extinct 
and Dormant Baronetcies," 1591. 

IX. Jane, the wife of Roger Meynell, J Esq., of Hal- 
naby, and Hilton, who died leaving an only son, viz : 

I. Edmund, who married Thomasina, daughter of 

* Christopher Mallory's sister Margaret married John Conyers, of Eaton- 
on-Usk, and had by him Christopher Conyers, who married a sister of the 
celebrated Cardinal Allen, and his sister Dorothy married the celebrated 
Sir George Bowes, of Streatlam, who figured so conspicuously in putting down 
the Rebellion of 1569. From this we learn that the Danbys and Sir George 
Bowes were connected by marriage* although taking different sides in that 
Rebellion. This may account in some measure for the escape of Christopher 
Danby, and Sir John Neville, after the failure of the Rebellion- — See 
Walbran's " Lords of Studley." 

t See " Burke's Commoners," p. 674. 

% See Ibid, p. 402. 



260 MASHAM AND MASHAMSKXIiE. 

Kalph Tancred, of Arden, Esq., by whom she had a son f 
Charles Meynell, of Hilton. 

X. Christopher Danby, Esq. (2nd son) who married 
Margaret, daughter of Sir William Calverley, Kht., and 
widow of Robert Beeston, of Beeston-hall, Esq. Having 
thus allied himself to the knightly family of the Carver- 
leys,- and that too by the marriage of a widow in the 
possession of a comfortable home and establishment, 
with an ample fortune wherewithal to support it, he took 
up his residence at his wife's mansion (Beeston-hall). 
There he might have ended his days in peace and 
affluence, had not his strong sense of the wrongs done to 
his co-religionists, impelled him to join his relatives, the 
Earls of Northumberland, and Westmoreland, in the 
disastrous Rebellion of 1569, whereby he brought ruin 
upon himself and his family. For this he was convicted 
of High Treason, and attainted, whereby his estates be- 
came forfeited to the crown, and he had to seek his own 
safety by fleeing to a foreign land, there to drag out the 
remainder of his days in exile, living upon a paltry pit- 
tance of £30 a year, and for which even he was indebted 
to the hand of a stranger. In connection with the Rebel- 
lion before alluded to, his name first appears in a docu- 
ment in the British Museum, (Calig. c. 1, 347), dated 
2 November, 1569, in which he figures as "Christopher 
Danby, son of Sir Christopher Danby, a great doer in 
these matters," [meaning that he was a great plotter of 
Rebellion,] and " evil of religion," [a Roman Catholic]. 
And after the unsuccesful issue of the Rebellion, his 
name again appears in another letter of Lord Scrope (of 
Bolton), dated 1st January, 1570, in which it is said 
that Christopher Danby is at one John Scott's house, at 
Colebeck: which John Scott, on being sent for, denied, 
and was committed to prison. And also, as to his having 
been at Leeds with two hundred rebel horsemen. He 
however succeeded in effecting his escape into Scotland, 
and then we have his name included in another docu- 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 261 

ment, dated 8th January, 1570, containing the " Names 
of such Rebells and fugitiv as the Erie of Sussex doth 
demand of the Lord Regent " [of Scotland] . And, again, 
the Earl of Northumberland himself, in his confession, 
which he made previous to his execution, gives the name 
of Christopher Danby as one of the parties who were 
privy to, and took an active part in, the conspiracy for 
the Rebellion, and as one of the plotters of it. And 
Christopher Norton, too (the seventh son of old Richard 
Norton, "the Patriarch of Rebellion,") in his confession 
also stated that " Christopher Danby toyld me, ryding 
from Raby, the [Spanish] Imbasator at London, hayd 
promysed to aid them with ather one hondryd southand 
crowns, or else V hondryd southand : and that the Erles 
shold have hayd thame, shortly after;" which was cer- 
tainly a most damnatory piece of evidence against him, 
as, if true, it proved him to have been privy to an ar- 
rangement by which he and his co- conspirators were to 
receive assistance in their enterprize from a foreign 
Catholic power. Accordingly, we find included amongst 
the " Names of those that were endyted for the con- 
spiracy of treason, 1 Sep. An. 11 Eliz., at Topclyf, in 
the county of Yorke," the name of " Christopher Danby, 
Beiston, Esq.," as also in "An Acte for the Confirmation 
of th' Attainders of Charles, Earle of Westmorelande ; 
Thomas, Earle of Northumberland, and others. — 13th 
Eliz. c. xvi.," the name of " Christopher Danby, late of 
Beiston, Esq." He, however, succeeded in evading his 
pursuers, and in effecting his escape into the Low Coun- 
tries, and in June, 1572, we find that he was an exile 
existing there upon a pension of £30 a year, allowed him 
by King Philip. The last trace I can find of him 
is in a letter of Dr. Thomas Wilson, (who was sent into 
Flanders to procure the banishment of the fugitive rebels) 
in which he says that he was then at Namur. Such was 
the sad and eventful history of this scion of the once 
noble house of Danby, which, with that of Sir John 
Neville, his brother-in-law, lend a melancholy interest to 



^^— — ___ 



262 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIIIE. 

this portion of the pedigree. He left, by his wife, two 
daughters, viz : 

I. Mary Danby. 

II. Elizabeth Danby. 

XI. John Danby (3rd son) who died without issue. 

XII. James Danby (4th son), of Scruton (1585), 
but afterwards, it is supposed, of Ellington, who married 
Isabella, a daughter of Richard Meynell, of Eslyngton, 
Yorkshire, by whom he had the following children, viz : 

I. Christopher Danby, who was born about 1564. 

II. James Danby. 

III. Francis Danby. 

IV. John Danby. 
Y. Elizabeth Danby. 

XIII. Marmaduke Danby (5th son), of Masham, Esq. 
He was appointed supervisor under the will of John 
Dods worth, of Masham, dated 6th April, 1584 ; he was 

living in 1600. He married a daughter of Parker, 

and left the following children : 

I. Christopher Danby, the "unjust steward" of the 
Danby estates. He was living in 1608, and was then a 
party to a suit in Chancery with Edward Lord Bruce. 

II Elizabeth Danby. 

III. Mary Danby. 

XIY. William Danby (6th son), living in 1590. 

Sir Thomas Danby, Knt., above-mentioned, in the 
year 1571, succeeded his father in his estates, and as 
Lord of Mashamshire. He was born about 1530, and 
was returned in Barnard's Survey of Duchy Lands in 
the County of York, taken in 19th Elizabeth, 1577, as 
holding the manor of Farnley, of the Honor of Ponte- 
fract. He was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 18th Eliza- 
beth, 1576. In 1583, he was a Justice of the Peace for 
the North Riding, there being then only twenty-one jus- 
tices in number.* 

* See Calendar of Justices of the Peace for the North Riding of Yorkshire, 
taken in 1583.— Hark MS. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 263 

He married Lady Mary Neville, second daughter of 
Ralph Neville,* fourth Earl of Westmoreland, to whom 
he was espoused in the 26th Henry VIII., 1534-5, when 
he was only four years old, her fortune being 1050 marks 
or £700. She was aunt to Charles Neville, sixth Earl 
of Westmoreland, who joining with the Earl of Northum- 
berland in the Rebellion of 1569, before alluded to, was 
attainted, when all his honours and very great posses- 
sions became forfeited. In the 8th Elizabeth, 1565-6, 
Sir Thomas joined with his father in the purchase of the 
manors of Healey and Ellington from Henry Lord Scrope 
of Bolton, besides other lands, together with claim to 
all badges of seignory whatsoever ; and in the 29th 
Elizabeth, 1586-7, he bought of William Singleton of 
Fountains, Gentleman, the capital messuage of Pot, with 
the lands thereto appertaining, and all his claims of right 
to the Royalties, wastes, &c. He also purchased the 

* " He was descended from Ralph Neville, the first Earl of Westmoreland, 
K.G., by his second wife Joane, daughter of John of Gaunt, whose posses- 
sions were so extensive that besides the castle of his Anglo-Saxon ancestors, 
and those of Brancepeth, Middleham, and Sheriff Hutton (inherited through 
Norman heiresses of great name), he possessed about fifty manor-houses : and 
his feudal following was so grand, that, at times, he assembled in the great 
hall at Raby, no fewer than 700 knights, who lived on his lands in time 
of peace, and followed his banner in war. Even the Earl's children were 
more numerous than those of his neighbours. He was twice married ; and 
the Duchess of York, known among the Northern men as " The Rose of 
Raby," was the youngest of a family of twenty-two. John Neville (Ralph's 
eldest son by his first Countess) was progenitor to those chiefs who, as Earls 
of Westmoreland, maintained baronial rank at Raby, till one of them risked 
and lost all in the great Northern Rebellion against Elizabeth. Richard 
Neville (Ralph's eldest son by his second Countess), obtained the hand 
of the heiress of the Montagues, and with it their Earldom of Salis- 
bury, and their vast possessions. In the continental wars and domestic 
struggles in which Englishmen indulged during the loth century, Salisbury 
was recognised as a man of military prowess and political influence ; but 
almost on reaching middle age his fame grew pale before that of his eldest 
son, Richard Neville, who espoused the heiress of the Beauchamps, who, in 
her right, obtained the Earldom of Warwick, and who, as times passed on, 
became celebrated throughout Europe as the 'King-maker.'" — The Wars 
of the Roses, hy J. G. Edgar, p. 14. 



264 MASHAM AND MASH AMSH IRE. 

manors of Bramham-Biggin, and South Cave. In the 
year 1586 he erected Farnley Hall, as appears by an 
inscription on the front of it.* I have already, at page 
108, alluded to the serious quarrel he had with 
his cousin John Lord Latimer. He died in his manor- 
house at South Cave, on the 13th September, 1590. In 
his will, which is dated the 3rd September, 1590, and 
proved at York, on the 22nd Sept., 1590, he describes 
himself, as " Sir Thomas Danby, of South Cave, Knight," 
and directs his body to be buried in the church of South 
Cave. He thus makes mention of the following persons, 
&c, in his said will: — c 'To Richard Danby, my son, the 
manor [of South Cave] and my lordship of Wytherley, 
— Mr. William Danby, my brother, — Robert Danby, my 
son (whom he appointed sole executor), — Mrs. Ann 
Calve rley, Parsonage of Watlass, — Hector Danby, my 
son, — my son Thomas Danby, deceased, — Christopher, 
my son Thomas son, — the poor of Farnley, — my brother 
Marmaduke Danby hath a pawn of Christopher Danby 's 
farm of Lang ton, — Christopher son oi said Marmaduke, 
— Mr. James Danby, my brother. "f He left by his 
wife, Lady Mary (who survived him till the 14th of 
March following), the following children: 

I. Thomas Danby, Esq., who in the 19th Elizabeth, 

* Thoresb}', in his "Ducatus Leodiensis," edit. 1715, p. 199, says, Farnley 
Hall was " a stately fabrick," and that " upon the front thereof is this 
inscription, l Build ed in the year of our Lord 1586, and in the reign of the 
Queen 28, by Sir Thomas Danby, Knight?" He also says, " On one side of 
the Inscription is the paternal Coat, and on the other that with seven quar- 
terings, above the whole are 19 Coats besides the Danbys." 

t According to an Inquisition post mortem, taken at Methley, on the 7th 
July, 35th Elizabeth, 1593, he held at the time of his death — "the manor of 
Masham of the Queen, as of her castle of Richmond — the manor of Mow- 
thorpe — the manor or grange of Mossa and lands in Scruton — the manor of 
Farnley, &c, and manor of Clackheaton, and manor of Scoles — the manor 
of Thorpe-perrowe, and manor of Watlass — the manor of Driffield — the 
manor of Wibsey — the manor of Bramham-Biggin — Pott Grange, &c, in 
Pot, with Cosh- head, &c, held of the Queen in capite — the manor of South- 
grave [South Cave], held of Sir Edward Striugley [Stanley], Knt, of the 
manor of Thirsk, in socage."- -Marl, MS,, 760, fol. 63, British Museum. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 



265 



1576, was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas 
Went worth, Esq., of Wentworth-Woodhouse, Yorkshire, 
by Margaret, daughter and heiress of Sir William Gas- 
coigne, Knt., of Gawthorpe, who was a descendant of Sir 
William Gascoigne, Knt.,* Lord Chief Justice, (a very 
eminent Judge), and the grandfather of the unfortunate 
Earl of Strafford. The marriage contract is at Swinton 
Park, and is dated 1st August, 19th Elizabeth, from 
which it appears that her father gave her £1500 for her 
fortune. She survived her husband many years, and 
having purchased Pot Grange of Christopher Danby, her 
son, and of Robert Danby, his uncle (to whom Sir Tho- 
mas had left an annuity of forty marks chargeable 
thereon), she spent the greatest portion of her widow- 
hood at that place. She purchased from the Crown the 
wardship of her son daring his minority, and also from 
William Cecil, Esq., in the 37th Elizabeth, 1594-5, an 
assignment of the Crown lease of her son's lands then 
held by him. She was a Roman Catholic in religion, 
and was convicted of Popish recusancy, for which she 
received a pardon under the Great Seal in the 8th of 
James I., 1610. She died about the 10th January, 
1629, having left a will which bears date in September, 
1627, and was proved at York in October, 1629, in 
which she describes herself as of Thorpe Perrow, widow, 



* Chief Justice Gascoigne was not only 
a very eminent Judge, but a very bold, up- 
right, and independent magistrate. His 
refusal to try Archbishop Scrope, and 
Thomas Mowbray, son of the banished 
Duke of Norfolk, and his committal to 
prison of Henry V. (whilst Prince of 
Wales), for insulting him on the seat of 
justice, are noble instances of this. He 
died in 1419, and was buried in Harewood 
Church, where a monument is erected to 
his memory, an engraving of which will 
be found ante, p. 5. The annexed engraving 
is a representation of his shield of arms. 




ARMS OF SIR WILLIAM GASCOIGNE. 



%6$ MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

and directs her body to be buried in Masham Church. 
It then proceeds to mention the following persons : — 
"My nephew, Sir Thomas Wentworth, Baronet, — my 
cousin, Mr. Michael Wentworth, — my grandchild, Mr. 
Thomas Danby, — Mr. Christopher Danby, another of 
my grandchildren,— Elizabeth, wife of John Metcalfe." 
Thomas Danby, her husband, died the 3rd January, 
1581-2, in his father's lifetime, and therefore never came 
to the estates. He left by his wife a posthumous son, 

Christopher Danby, Esq., who succeeded to the estates 
on the death of his grandfather (Sir Thomas), therefore 
of him hereafter. 

II. Henry Danby (2nd son), who died in his father's 
lifetime, and was buried at Leeds in 1578. 

III. Kobert Danby, Esq., of Masham, who died with- 
out issue. ^ By his will, dated the 28th March, 1631, 
after desiring to be buried in Masham Church, and men- 
tioning his late niece Mary, sister to Thomas Danby, 
Esq., of South Cave, he makes the following bequest: 
"Item, my debts paid and pence apiece* given to the poor e 
at the church after the usual manner, and my funeral 
expences according to my abilitie discharged — I give unto 
the said Christopher Lodge [his servant] all my moneys 
and debts owen tome when they shall be due unto me;" 
and he appointed Christopher Lodge his sole executor. 

* The distribution of pence to the poor at the funeral, here alluded to, 
lias reference to the Funeral Dole which was usually distributed on these 
occasions. We learn from St. Chrysostom, that they were thus given, to 
procure rest to the soul of the deceased, that he might find his judge propi- 
tious. Brand says, " the giving of a dole, and the inviting of the poor on 
this occasion, are synonymous terms." So late as the last generation, it was 
the usual practice at Ellington, and Ellingstring, to invite all the poor to 
attend at the funerals. The original design of the custom was for the 
deceased to have the benefit of the prayers of these parties thus participating 
in the dole, or attending the funeral. It was also very common formerly in 
this parish for persons making wills to leave money to be distributed amongst 
the poor with the same object. In connection with this subject I may men- 
tion that within the recollection of the old people of Ellington and Elling- 
string, it was quite common to have funeral wakes there. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 267 

On the 13th May, 1631, he was presented in the Eccle- 
siastical Court at Masham for not paying his church rate 
to Masham Church. 

IV. Richard Danby, Esq., of South Cave, to whom 
his late father had left the manor of South Cave in fee. 
He married Alice, daughter of Marty n Arm, of Frickley. 
By his will, dated the 14th June, 1602, and proved at 
York the 20th of November, 1602, he describes himself 
as of "South Cave," and as a "prisoner for my contienc," 
and mentions "oakes and eshes in Weedley Wood," — his 
manor of South Cave, — and that his heir was then under 
21. He also thus makes mention of the following per- 
sons : — "William Danby, Gregory Danby, and Richard 
Danby, my sons, — Mary Danby, Alice Danby, and Ann 
Danby, my daughters, — my wife deceased, — Maister 
Hector Danby of Streglethorpe, and Mr. Thomas Danby 
of Thorganby, Co. Lincoln, my kinsmen, — my brother 
Ellis of Kiddale, — my brother Nelson of Brotherton." 
He died leaving the following children : 

I. Richard Danby, who was under 21 in 1602. 

II. Gregory Danby, who was living in 1602. 
HE William Danbv, who was living in 1602. 

IV. Thomas Danby,* who was living in 1602. He 
married Rosamond, the daughter of Sir Robert Swifte, 
and by her had a daughter, namely : 

Jane Swifte, who was baptized atDoncaster in 1650-1. 
Y. Mary Danby, who was living in 1602. 
YI. Alice Danby, who was living in 1602. 
VII. Ann Danby, who was living in 1602. 

V. Dorothy Danby, who was buried at Leeds in 1578. 
\ I. Hector Danby, who (according to a memorandum 

in the handwriting of Abstrupus Danby, Esq.) settled in 
Kinlet, in Shropshire. He is probably the same Hector 

* In an Act of Parliament, passed in 1652 (during the time of the Com- 
monwealth), cap. 23, I find that " the estates of Thomas Danby, late of Cave, 
in the County of York," are declared forfeited for high treason. I presume 
tha* this is the Thomas Danby referred to in the Act of Parliament. 



268 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Danby as is mentioned in the will of Richard Danby, 
dated 1602, as then of Streglethorpe. 

Christopher Danby, Esq., above-mentioned, succeeded 
to the estates, and became Lord of Mashamshire, on the 
death of his grandfather, on the 13th September, 1590. 
He was born on the 3rd March, 24th Elizabeth, 1581, 
two months after his father's death, and was conse- 
quently long a minor, his estates being in the meantime 
under the management of his mother as above- stated. 
He is described as of Thorpe Perrow, and Farnley, but 
he appears at one time to have resided at Leighton Hall, 
near Pot Grange. In the 44th Elizabeth, 1601-2, he 
was freed from the court of wards and liveries of his 
lands. Very soon afterwards he married Frances, the 
youngest daughter of Edward Parker* Lord Morley, by 
his wife Elizabeth, only daughter and heiress of William 
Stanlev Lord Monteagle. She was sister to William 
Lord Morley and Monteagle, to whom the remarkable 
letter was addressed by one of the parties to the Gun- 
powder Plot conspiracy, in the reign of James I., by 
means of which letter the plot was discovered in time, 
and Guy Fawkes, with his co-conspirators, were at once 
arrested, and subsequently punished. He was in reli- 
gion a Roman Catholic, and was convicted of Popish 
recusancy, for which he received a pardon under the 
Great Seal in 1610. His lady, who was also a Roman 
Catholic, was, for her adherence to her religion, also 
presented in the Ecclesiastical Court at Masham, and 
condemned as a Popish recusant. The marriage (which 
had taken place without the sanction or knowledge of 
the friends of the lady) was a very unhappy one, and 

* He was one of the Peers who sat in judgment and pronounced sentence 
of death on the beautiful, but unfortunate, Mary Queen of Scots — on Philip 
Earl of Arundel — and on Robert Earl of Essex, all in the reign of Queen 
Elizabeth. Elizabeth, his wife, was the only daughter and heiress of Wil- 
liam Stanley Lord Monteagle, the grandson of Sir Edward Stanley, who so 
highly distinguished himself at the Battle of Flodden-field, for which service 
he was raised to the peerage as Lord Monteagle. 



LOBDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 269 

resulted in a considerable amount of litigation and bad 
blood, and ultimately in a separation. He was anything 
but a faithful husband, and led the very reverse of a 
blameless life ; he kept bad company — was very liti- 
gious — a spendthrift — very improvident; allowed him- 
self to be robbed by an unfaithful steward, and ran into 
considerable debt, which obliged him to sell off a large 
portion of his paternal estates. His name also occurs in 
the proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Court at Masham, 
in connection with a frail lady of the name of Elizabeth 
Scott. He afterwards, however, became a very strenu- 
ous defender of his fortune against all encroachments, 
and especially of the franchises and liberties of Masham- 
shire, as appears by the great number of suits and actions 
at law, in which he was concerned relating to them. 
Among these, may be mentioned the action which he 
brought against Solomon Wyvill, of High Burton, near 
Masham, for hunting upon Browhriggs, in Mashamshire, 
in which he obtained a verdict at York assizes, and 
thereby established the fact that Brownriggs was within, 
and formed part of, the manor of Mashamshire, against 
the pretensions of the then Lord Bruce, who supported 
the defendant in the action, by claiming it as part of his 
manor of East Witton. Notwithstanding his being a 
Roman Catholic, he appears on the 12th September, 
1608, to have presented as patron to the living of Thorn- 
ton- Watlass. He died on the 18th July, 1624, intestate, 
and on the 20th August in the same year, letters of 
administration to his effects were granted to Michael 
Higginson, of York, as a creditor of the deceased, showing 
the still embarrassed state of his affairs. His widow 
survived him many years, and continued to receive her 
thirds of the estate till the 12th Charles I., 1636-7, in 
which year she accepted from her son a settlement of 
£350 a-year in lieu of her dower. About a year after 
her husband's death, she consoled herself by taking to 
herself a second husband (a William Richards, Esq.) 
with whom she lived a great many years at Farnley, and 



270 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

ultimately survived him, she having died on the 20th 
September, 1654. Christopher Danby had by his said 
wife the following children : 

I. Sir Thomas Danby, Knt., his successor, of whom 
presently. 

II. Christopher Danby, who was left unprovided for. 
He resided in London, where he died intestate, on the 
2nd October, 1634, of "an imposthume and spotted 
fever," being then about 18 years of age; and on the 
10th February, 1634, letters of administration to his 
effects were granted to his mother, in which she is 
described as the wife of William Richards, Esq., of 
Farnley. 

III. Katherine Danby, who was also left unprovided 
for ; her brother, however, after he came of age, volun- 
tarily gave her £1500 as a fortune. She was baptized 
at Leeds on the 29th February, 1611, and was after- 
wards, in 1629, married to Sir Francis Armytage, Bart., 
of Kirklees, who in the 8th Charles I. held the office of 
Bow-bearer of the Free Chase of Mashamshire. From 
this marriage is descended Charles John Henry Mundy, 
Esq., of Ormsby, in Lincolnshire, the supposed present 
representative of the family, and of the barony of Scrope 
of Masham. Lady Katherine Armytage died about the 
year 1646, having had the following children: 

I. Sir John Armytage, Bart., who was remarkable as 
being most zealous in putting down the Nonconformists, 
and most active in suppressing their conventicles. In 
the year 1669, he was High Sheriff of Yorkshire, and 
Captain of the Trained Bands; he was also Deputy 
Lieutenant and a Justice of the Peace. He married 
Margaret, the second daughter of Thomas Thornhill, 
Esq., of Fixby. In April, 1677, he fell from his horse 
as he was returning home from a drinking party at Nun- 
brook, and broke his neck. He was buried at Hartshead 
Church with a most gorgeous ceremonial, the Eev. Saml. 
Drake, Vicar of Pontefract, preaching his funeral ser- 
mon. Oliver Heywood, the Dissenter, who describes 



LORDS OF MASHAMSH1RE. 271 

the scene of his death, evidently looked upon it as a 
judgment for Sir John's harshness to the Dissenters. 
He left eight sons, all of -whom died childless. — See 
Burke's Extinct Baronetcies. 

II. Francis, who married Mary, daughter of Robert 
Trapps, Esq., of Nidd-hall, and had an only surviving 
son, Thomas, who succeeded to the Baronetcy. 

III. William, of Killinghall. 

IV. Catherine, who died unmarried. 

V. Anne, wife of Mr. Smith, of London. 

VI. Prudence, who died unmarried. 

VII. Elizabeth, who died unmarried. 

VIII. Winifred, the wife of Thomas Lacy, Esq. 

Sir Thomas Danby, Knt., above-mentioned, succeeded 
to the estates, and became Lord of Mashamshire, on the 
death of his father in 1624. He was born in 1610, and 
consequently was only 14 years of age when he came to 
the estates. His estates came into the King's hands, and 
were accordingly taken possession of by the Court of 
Wards and Liveries, (which was then in the plenitude of 
its power,) to be held by it during his minority. Thus 
the boy's grandmother had the mortification of seeing 
the estates for a second time in the hands of that most 
obnoxious and tyrannical court, and she was now too old 
to take upon herself the wardship of her grandson, and 
the management of his estates, as she had previously 
done during the minority of his father. It would seem,, 
however, that she, through the influence and interest of 
her nephew, Sir Thomas Went worth (afterwards Earl of 
Stratford), and other members of her family, soon suc- 
ceeded in inducing Christopher Wandesford, Esq.,* of 

* He was upon very friendly terms with Thomas Wentworth Earl of 
Strafford, and when that nobleman was created Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 
he accompanied him thither, when he was made Master of the Rolls there, 
in 1633, and at the same time sworn of the Privy Council. He was one of 
the Lords Justices in 1636 and 1639, and on the 1st April, 1640, he was 
appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland, and soon afterwards created Baron Mow- 
bray, and Musters, and Viscount Castlecomer. The melancholy fate of Earl 



272 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRS. 

Kirklington (afterwards successively Sir Christopher 
Wandesford, Knt., Baron Mowbray, Baron Musters, 
Viscount Castlecomer, Master of the Eolls, and Lord 
Deputy of Ireland), to become the purchaser from the 
Crown of the wardship of her grandson. Mr. Wandes- 
ford accordingly purchased from the Court of Wards and 
Liveries, for the sum of £800, the right to the custody, 
wardship, and marriage of the minor, together with an 
allowance of £20 a-year to be paid out of court, for the 
maintenance and education of the minor, and also a lease 
of all the minor's estates (which included other estates 
besides Mashamshire), for a fine of forty shillings, during 
the minority, at the annual rent of £150, they being then 
really worth £3000 a-year according to the value of 
money at that day. Mr. Wandesford having thus secured 
to himself the guardianship of the minor upon these very 
advantageous terms, had him immediately removed to 
his own house at Kirklington, where he had him brought 
up and educated in the midst of his own family of 
children. The allowance of £20 a-year, so liberally 
allowed by the Court of Wards and Liveries, for the 
maintenance and education of the minor, was certainly 
small enough, and would have hardly satisfied the very 
moderate demands of Mr. and Mrs. Squeers of Do-the- 
boys Hall, — especially, as the £20 a-year had to include 
the necessary articles of clothing, besides treacle-and- 
brimstone, and extras, (that odious word we invariably 
meet with in our school-bills), and still less, even the 

Strafford had, however, so deep an effect upon him that he died on the 3rd 
December in the same year. His son and successor, Christopher Wandes- 
ford, was on the 5th August, 1662, created a Baronet, and his grandson, Sir 
Christopher Wandesford, Bart., was advanced to the Peerage of Ireland, as 
Baron Wandesford and Viscount Castlecomer. Sir John Wandesford, fifth 
Viscount Castlecomer, was in 1758, created Earl Wandesford, but dying in 
1784, without male issue, all his honours became extinct. His daughter 
Anne, having married John Butler, afterwards Earl of Ormonde, the "Wan- 
desford estates came into the Butler family. Sarah, the wife of the Rev. 
John Prior, the present Rector of Kirklington, is the daughter of the last- 
mentioned Anne Wandesford, afterwards Countess of Ormonde, 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 273 

moderate desires of "a fine young English gentleman, 
one of the modern times," in the shape of an allowance 
from " the Gov'ner," for cigars and pocket-money ; yet 
such was the liberality of the infamous Court of Wards 
and Liveries; and both the guardian and ward were 
(each for their own reasons) perfectly content with it. 
Young Thomas Danby had not, however, been long at 
Kirklington before he began to "cast eyes of affection," 
on his guardian's eldest daughter Catherine, "a very 
pretty young lady," (as we have already seen, ante p. 
123.) What sort of eyes the young lady cast back in 
return may be readily imagined, for "though several 
other gentlemen of considerable fortune, &c, were 
suitors," she gave the preference to young Thomas 
Danby, and they were accordingly joined together in 
holy wedlock in the year 1630, to the great satisfaction 
of all parties concerned, the young gentleman having 
then arrived at the mature age of eighteen, whilst 
Catherine his wife rejoiced in having seen fifteen sum- 
mers. Although the happy pair had been considered old 
enough to marry, they were thought to be too young to 
commence housekeeping on their own account ; they there- 
fore continued to reside with the young lady's father 
and mother, who it is said, "gave entertainment to 
themselves, servants, and horses, for several years." Mr. 
Wandesford having in 1633 been appointed Master of 
the Rolls in Ireland, he some time afterwards removed 
his wife and family thither, when Mr. Thomas Danby 
took his wife and children to Farnley, where they com- 
menced housekeeping on their own account, and " began 
to live in a most generous manner." He was soon after- 
wards put upon the Commission of the Peace for the 
North Riding of Yorkshire; and in 1635, he was ap- 
pointed by his cousin Lord Wentworth (afterwards 
created Earl of Strafford) then Lord Lieutenant of the 
West Riding, and Lord President of the North, one of his 
Deputy Lieutenants. On the 29th August, 1635, he 
presented as Patron to the living of Thornton- Watlass. 



274 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRB. 

In 1637-8, he served the office of High Sheriff of his 
native county, and during that year we find him actively 
engaged in enforcing the payment of the obnoxious 
impost, ship-money. His father-in-law having been ap- 
pointed on the 1st April, 1640, to the high office of Lord 
Deputy of Ireland, and soon afterwards created Baron 
Mowbray and Musters, and Viscount Castlecomer, he and 
his wife paid him a visit in Ireland, and during such 

visit had the honour of being- knighted. In the mean- 
CD o 

time, however, he had been appointed Colonel of a Regi- 
ment of soldiers, * and we accordingly find his name 
attached as such to an address which was presented to 
King Charles I. at York, on the 30th March, 1639, by 
the Deputy Lieutenants and Colonels of the county. He 
also represented the Borough of Richmond in Parliament 
and was member for that borough during the memorable 
Long Parliament; but was in the year 1642, declared to 
be incapable of sitting in it on account of his malignancy. 
Whilst he continued in Parliament, as a staunch Royalist, 
he zealously supported the Royal cause against the Par- 
liament, and warmly espoused the cause of his relative 
and patron the Earl of Strafford, and ventured to come 
forward and give evidence on his behalf on his trial, and 
to vote against his conviction. He thus became a marked 
man, and his name was accordingly publicly posted up 
in London on the 3rd May, 1641, as u a Straffordian," 
and as such was thus pointed out so as to excite the fury of 
the populace against him. He still, however, continued 
zealously attached to the cause of his royal master, to 
whom he rendered good service during the Civil Wars. 
In common with the rest of the Cavaliers, on the failure 
of their cause, and the consequent supremacy of the 
Roundheads, he was a great sufferer both in person and 
estate, and was long detained a prisoner, and obliged to 
pay a fine of £5600, in order to procure his freedom, 

* Thoresby in his " Ducatus Leodiensis " (Edit. 1715) page 203, says, 
" When Sir Thomas Danby was Colonel against the Scots, Mr. Gale was 
Captain." 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 275 

and the restoration of his estates. It is proverbial that 
misfortunes seldom come alone, and the truth of this 
proverb was fully exemplified in the life and hard fate 
of Sir Thomas Dauby. He had the misfortune of wit- 
nessing the downfall of his cousin and patron, the great 
Earl of Strafford, and the shedding of his blood upon 
the scaffold — the death very soon afterwards, from sheer 
grief, of his father-in-law, who stood towards him in the 
peculiar position in which he had been placed, more as 
a parent than otherwise — the disastrous defeat of the 
Cavaliers at the battle of Naseby, which had not only 
all but rendered hopeless the cause he had so much at 
heart, and sealed the fate of his Royal Master, but had 
placed himself and his fortune at the mercy of the 
Soundheads — but yet another and a greater misfortune 
awaited him. On the 26th September, 1645, his wife, 
in giving birth to her fifteenth child, died in the thirtieth 
year of her age, and in the very fulness of her woman- 
hood ; and such appears to have been the nature of her 
death, that it was deemed necessary to remove her life- 
less remains, on the*same day on which she died, from 
Thorp- Perrow to Masham, there to be buried. Now 
was Sir Thomas's cup of grief full to o'erflowing, bereft 
as he then was of the wife of his affection — the com- 
panion of his youth, and lately his only companion and 
adviser, and sharer of his joys and sorrows. He was left 
alone to drag out the few remaining years of his life, and 
to brood over his misfortunes, and to occupy himself in 
recalling to his memory the scenes of former days. One 
can hardly conceive circumstances more distressing than 
these, or more calculated to enlist one's sympathies on 
behalf of a person so placed, for 

" Still o'er these scenes his mem'ry wakes, 
And fondly broods with miser care ! 
Time but th' impression deeper makes, 
As streams their channels deeper wear." 

In the year 1660 (after the Restoration) King 
Charles II. invested him with the newly created 



276 MASH AM ANT) MASHAMSHIRE. 

Order of the Royal Oak as a mark of, and a re- 
ward for, his loyalty. He lived however but a very 
short time to wear his newly acquired, and dear- 
bought honour, having died 5th Aug., 1660, in London, 
and was buried in the North aisle of the Choir of York 
Minister. By his will, which is dated the 11th Nov- 
ember, 1659, but which was only proved at York in 
the year 1673, by Catherine, the wife of Henry Best, of 
Gray's Inn, Esq, (daughter of the deceased), he describes 
himself, as " Sir Thomas Danby of Thorpe Perroe, 
Knight," and thus makes mention of the following per- 
sons, viz : "to my eldest daughter Catherine Danby, 
£2000, to my daughter Alice Danby, £1000, to my third 
son John Danby, £1,000 — to my fourth son Charles 
Danby, £1000 — my fifth son Francis Danby, £1000 — 
my second son Christopher Danby and his wife, my plan- 
tations in Virginia, and £200 to be paid within twelve 
months after he should return into Virginia to settle and 
plant there. A very good portrait of Sir Thomas, by 
J. Carleton (1635) is to be seen at Swinton Park, as also 
one of his lady. He had by his said wife the following 
children, viz : — 

I. Thomas Danby, Esq., his successor, therefore of 
him hereafter. 

II. Christopher Danby, his second son, of whom also 
hereafter, he having ultimately succeeded to the estates 
on the death of his nephew Christopher, as hereafter 
mentioned. 

III. Catherine, the wife of Henry Best, Esq., of Mid- 
dleton-Quernhow, Yorkshire, a member of Gray's Inn, 
London. She died in 1688, leaving the following 
children, viz. : — 

I. Henry Best. 

II. Catherine, the wife of Edward Goddard, of Rich- 
mond, Yorkshire. 

IV. John Danby (his third son), who married and 
lived at Middleham. He is mentioned in the will of his 
father, dated 1650, and of his brother Charles, dated 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE, 277 

1672, as well as in Sir Abstrupus Danby's will, in 1726. 
He died and was buried at Middleham, in 1696, leaving 
an only surviving daughter, namely, 

I. Catherine, the wife and afterwards the widow of 

Digby, of Middleham, (who is described in Sir 

Abstrupus Danby's will as his cousin). There is a 
portrait of her in Swinton Park. She left by her hus- 
band a son, James Digby, of Middleham, who is also 
mentioned in the will of Sir Abstrupus Danby, dated 
in 1726. 

V. Charles Danby (his fourth son), who died without 
issue in 1672. By his will, dated the 18th April, 1672, 
and proved at York in the same year, he describes him- 
self as "Charles Danby, of Gray's Inn, Gentleman," and 
thus makes mention of his relatives : — " My niece Cathe- 
rine Best, the daughter of Henry Best, of Gray's Inn, 
Esq. — My brother John Danby. — My brother Francis 
Danby. — My sister Katherine Best. — My nephew Henry 
Best, son of my brother Henry Best. — The children of 
my brother Christopher Danby." 

VI. Francis Danby (his fifth son), who was baptized 
at Leeds on the 31st March, 1641, and died unmarried. 

VII. Edward Danby. 

VIII. Alice Danby, who died unmarried in 1670. 
Seven other children, who all died young and without 

issue. 

Thomas Danby, Esq. (above-mentioned), succeeded 
his father, Sir Thomas Danby, Knt., in his estates 
at his death in 1660, and thus became Lord of Masham- 
shire. He was born at the house of Sir Christopher 
Wandesford, Knt., at Kirklington. He was a Captain in 
the Boyal Army, and the first Mayor of Leeds.* He 
married Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of William 
Eure, second son of William, sixth Lord Eure, of Wilton 
Castle, in Cleveland, who was a Colonel in the Koyal 

* Edward Atkinson, Esq., officiated for him during his mayoralty. 



2 78 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIKE. 

army, and fell at Marston-moor in 1645. She was also 
co-heiress to her cousin Ralph Lord Eure, and had in 
her widowhood in 1673, a royal grant to enjoy place and 
precedence as if her father had survived William Lord 
Eure, her grandfather. This Thomas Danby is stated 
in the Danby pedigree to have been slain before Leeds, 
in 1667, but it is stated in Harl. MS., fo. 35, that he 
was killed in a tavern in London, in 1667. He died 
intestate, on the 23rd November, 1667, and letters of 
administration to his effects were granted to Margaret 
Danby,* his relict, who survived him till the 23rd June, 
1688, when shedied. He had by her the following children : 

I. Thomas Danby, Esq., his successor, therefore of 
him presently. 

II. Christopher Danby, Esq., who succeeded his bro- 
ther in the estates on his death, and therefore of him 
also hereafter. 

III. Mary Danby, who was baptized at Leeds on the 
2nd of May, 1661, and died an infant. 

TV. Charles Danby, who also died an infant. 

Y. Charlotte Danby, who was killed by a fall from 
her horse in 1688. 

Thomas Danby, Esq. (above-mentioned), succeeded 
his father in the estates on his death in 1667, and 
thus became Lord of Mashamshire. He was a minor 
when he came to the estates ; we accordingly find that 
on the 14th January, 1669, (he being still a minor) 
Margaret Danby, his mother, presented for him as patron 
of the living of Thorn ton- Wat lass. Having died during 
his minority, and unmarried, in the year 1671, he was 
succeeded bv his brother, 

* After the death of her husband she offered a considerable sum of money 
towards the erection of a handsome new Guild-hall at Leeds, to be erected 
upon pillars and arches, according to the plan of Mr. John Thoresby. Her 
offer, however, was not accepted, which was afterwards very much regretted, 
and an ugly structure was built in its stead, which has since had to give way 
to the elegant Town-hall but recently built there. — See Thoresby's Ducatus 
Leodiensis, (edit. 171o), p. 15. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 279 

Christopher Danby, Esq. (also above-mentioned), who 
on the death of his brother, succeeded to the estates, and 
thus became Lord of Mashamshire. He was killed in 
the year 1683, by a fall from his horse on Watlass-moor, 
whilst hunting; and thus dying a minor, and without 
issue, was succeeded by his uncle, 

Christopher Danby, Esq. (also above-mentioned), who 
was the second son of Sir Thomas Danby, Knt., and was 
born in November, 1633, at the house of his maternal 
grandfather, Sir Christopher Wandesford, Knt., in St. 
Martin' s-lane, London : and, along with his elder brother 
Thomas, received his education in Dublin, where his 
maternal grandfather and grandmother were then re- 
siding. He succeeded-to the estates on the death of his 
nephew, Christopher Danby, in 1683, and thus became 
Lord of Mashamshire, but in the same year granted it to 
his son, Sir Abstrupus Danby, Knt. He married Anne, 
the daughter of Colonel Edward Colepepper, second 
brother of John Lord Colepepper, who survived him till 
the 11th Nov., 1695, when she died and was buried in 
Trinity Church, Micklegate, York, aged 63. # He died 
in the year 1689, having had by his wife the following 
children : — 

I. Sir Abstrupus Danby, Knt., his successor, there- 
fore of him presently. 

II. Wandesford Danby, Esq., who was born in 1663, 
and was living in 1700. 

* The following is a copy # of the inscription erected to her memory in the 
above Church, by her son Sir Abstrupus Danby : — 

" Epitaphium in obitum Annae uxoris Christophebi Danby, armigeri 
quae sanctissima vita emisit animam beatam, xj die Novembris MDCXCV, 
anno iEtatis suae 63. 
Atropos. — Haud valui tamen hanc abscindere vitam 
Tanta intexta fuit vis pietate sua. 
Addidit ipse mihi Deus sua stamina vires ; 
Mortua nunc vivit non moritura Deo. 
Hoc monumentum exculptum impensis Abstrup. Danby, militis, in piam 
defunctse suae matris memoriam erect' fuit in hac Bacilica xv die Januarii, 

MDCXCVI." 



280 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

III. Francelia Danby, who was born in 1668, and died 
in 1698. Her portrait is to be seen at Swinton Park. 

TV. Eleanor Danby. 

Sir Abstrupus Danby, Knight (above-mentioned), 
succeeded to the estates, and became Lord of Masham- 
shire, by a grant made thereof to him by his father in 
his lifetime, in the year 1683. He was born on the 27th 
Dec, 1655, and was knighted at Kensington on the 30th 
August, 1691. He was a Justice of the. Peace, and 
Deputy Lieutenant for the North Riding of Yorkshire, 
and represented the borough of Aldborough, near Bo- 
roughbridge, in Parliament in the years 1698 and 1699. 
When he came to the estates he found them very much 
involved, and his first act was to borrow on mortgage 
the sum of £20,000, in order to pay off the debts and 
incumbrances upon them. In order to pay off or reduce 
this mortgage, he, in the year 1688, sold the estate at 
Thornton- Watlass and Thorp- Per row to Sir William 
Blackett, which sale produced £10,300; he also in the 
same year sold the manor of Scruton to Dr. Gale, then 
Dean of York, which produced £1040 ; and in the year 
1697, he sold the manor of Driffield to Mr. Richardson 
for £2000. In the same year (1688) in which he sold 
Thorp-Perrow, he purchased from Mr. Norton, for 
£1160, the remaining one-third of the manor of Swinton, 
with the mansion-house there, whereupon the family 
removed their seat or residence from Thorp-Perrow to 
Swinton. By his judicious management of the estates 
he acquired to himself the title of the "Restorer of his 
Family," as will be seen on reference to the monumental 
inscription to his memory which is now in Masham 
Church. He married Judith, the daughter of Abraham 
Moon, a merchant in London, and relict of William 
Davies, Esq., younger brother to Sir Thomas Davies, 
Lord Mayor of London. She died on the 22nd January, 
1712, and was buried at Masham. Sir Abstrupus died 
at Swinton on the 24th December, 1727, having left a 
will which is dated 1726, and was proved at York in 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 281 

1729, in which he describes himself as "Sir Abstrupus 
Danby, Knight, of Mashamshire," and directs his body 
to be buried in Masham Chnrch, where his wife was 
buried. In his will he thus makes mention of the fol- 
lowing persons: — "My brother Mr. Wandesford Danby. 
- — Mr. James Digby, son of Mrs. Katherine Digby, of 
Middleham, widow, and grandson of my late uncle Mr. 
John Danby, of Middleham, deceased. — My cousin the 
said Katherine Digby, surviving daughter of my late 
uncle. — Mr. John Green, mine and my dear wife's most 
hopeful godson. — Abstrupus Danby, Esq., my son and 
heir." There are several portraits of Sir Abstrupus at 
Swinton Park. He left by his said wife an only son, 

Abstrupus Danby, Esq., of Swinton, who succeeded 
his father in the estates at his death, and thus became 
Lord of Mashamshire. He was born in 1680. In the 
year following his father's death, viz., 1728, he paid off 
one half of the remaining £10,000 of the mortgage upon 
the estate, and the other half in the year 1750. He 
married first Elizabeth, the daughter of Arthur Ingram, 
Esq., of Barrowby, (and brother of Henry Lord Irwin), 
by Jane, daughter of Sir JohnMallory, Knt., of Studley, 
by whom he had the following children, viz : 

I. William Danby, Esq., his successor, therefore of 
him presently. 

II. Arthur Danby, who was born in 1713, and died 
in 1766, unmarried. His portrait is at Swinton Park. 

III. Abstrupus Danby, who was born in 1717, and 
married Hannah, the daughter of Richard Wolfe, Esq., 
of Bridlington Quay. She died in 1792. This Abstrupus 
Danby died at York 17th March, 1792. There is a 
portrait of him at Swinton Park. He left by his wife 
an only daughter, viz : 

Elizabeth Danby, who died unmarried in 1768, and 
whose portrait is at present to be seen at Swinton Park. 

IV. Jane Danby, who was born in 1714, and died in 
1764, unmarried. 

His first wife having died in April, 1717, and been 



282 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

buried at Whitchurch, near Leeds, he married secondly, 
in the year 1720, Battina, daughter of the Kev. Dr. 
Euston. She died in 1748, and was buried at Bath He 
died on the 12th March, 1750. By his will, which is 
dated a.d. 1743, and proved at York, a.d. 1750, he 
describes himself as of Swinton, and thus makes mention 
of the following persons, viz : " My wife Battina — my 
younger sons Arthur Danby and Abstrupus Danby — 
my daughter Jane, if she be restored to her right mind ; 
but in case she shall marry with Charles Robinson, now, 
or late of Scarborough, Esq., Barrister- at 4a w, then etc., 
(he cuts her off) — my daughter Judith — my daughter 
Anne — my eldest son William." There is a portrait of 
him at Swinton Park. He left by said second wife the 
following three daughters, viz : 

V. Judith Danby, who died in 1744, without issue. 

VI. Anne Danby, who died at Acomb, near York, on 
the 17th April, 1759, without issue. She left by her 
will dated the 23rd June, 1755, to the charity school for 
the poor children in the town of Masham £200 for the 
benefit of the said charity school, also to the Foundling 
and St. Luke's Hospitals, the Society for Propagating 
the Gospel, the Protestant Schools in Ireland, the charity 
schools in York, and the poor of Masham, £200 each. 

VII. Battina Danby, who was baptized on the 23rd 
February, 1728, and died without issue. 

William Danby, Esq., (above mentioned) succeeded 
his father in the estates at his death in 1750, and thus 
became Lord of Mashamshire. He was born in 1712, 
and married Mary, daughter of Gilbert Affleck, Esq., 
of Dalham-hall, in the county of Suffolk. She was the 
sixteenth child of her parents. Her brother Edward 
having entered the Royal Navy in 1781, he commanded 
the ""Bedford," of 74 guns, and in 1782, was advanced 
to the rank of Rear Admiral of the blue. He was 
created a Baronet on the 28th May, 1782, for his 
gallant conduct as commander of the central division in 
the memorable naval engagement of the 12th April, 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 283 

1782, between Admiral Rodney and the French Squad- 
ron under the command of Compte de Grasse. Mr. 
Danby was an excellent manager of his estates, and not 
only cleared them of all the remaining incumbrances up- 
on them, but considerably improved them in value, as 
we have already seen ante. He also made extensive 
additions to the estate ; indeed it appears that during his 
time, and that of his father, and grandfather, purchases 
were made in order to improve the estate, to the amount 
of £14,733. He was also a great benefactor to the town 
and parish of Masham. He died at his house in Bruton 
Street, London, on the 8th of April, 1781, aged sixty- 
nine years. There is a good portrait of him at Swinton 
Park. He left by his wife (who died on the 8th June, 
1773) the following children, viz: 

I. William Danby, Esq., his successor, therefore of 
him presently. 

II. Mary Danby, who was born in 1749. She married 
firstly on the 13th July, 1772, Thomas Lockhart, Esq., 
(son and heir-apparent of Alexander Lockhart of Craig- 
house, Esq., one of the Lords of Session in Scotland) 
who died on the 22nd August, 1775. She married, 
secondly, in 1780, the Honourable Colonel William Har- 
court, who on the 20th April, 1809, succeeded on the 
death of his brother, to the title of Earl Harcourt. He 
was Master of the Horse to the Queen, Governor of the 
Military College, Governor of Portsmouth, and a Field- 
Marshal. She died on the 14th January, 1833, without 
issue. 

III. Elizabeth Danby, who was born in London, on 
the 4th September, 1754, and died unmarried in Sep- 
tember, 1786, at Lyons, where she was buried. 

William Danby, Esq., (above mentioned) succeeded 
his father in his estates at his death in 1781, and 
as such became Lord of Mashamshire (being the last of 
his name and family). He was born on the 28th June, 
1752. He was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1784. He 
married, firstly, on the 16th September, 1775, Caroline 



284 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

daughter of Henry Seymour, of Sherbourne, Esq., M.P., 
for Evesham ; she dying without issue on the 3rd May, 
1821, at Clifton, near Bristol, he married, secondly, on 
the 5th January, 1822, Anne Holwell, second daughter 
of William Gater, Esq., of Exeter. He died on the 4th 
December, 1833, without issue, leaving his wife him 
surviving, to whom he left by his will the Lordship of 
Mashamshire, for her life, with a limited power of ap- 
pointment in favour of one of the members of the Affleck 
family. She is now (1863) the wife of Admiral Octavius 
Henry Cyril Venables Vernon Harcourt,* who, in her 
right, is the present Lord of Mashamshire. 

Arms, ar., three chevronells brased in the base point 
of the escutcheon, sa. ; on a chief of the second, three 
mullets of the first. 

Crest, a crab erect, or. 



* Admiral Harcourt died whilst these pages were going through the 
press, namely, on Friday, the 14th of August, 1863, aged 69. 



LORDS OF MASHAMSHIRE. 



285 






PEDIGREES OF FAMILIES CONNECTED 
WITH MASHAMSHIRE. 







NORTON OF SWINTON. 

LINEAGE. 

Richard Norton, Esq.,* of Norton- 
Conyers, u the Patriarch of the Rebel- 
lion" of 1569, and for which he was 
attainted in the reign of Queen Eliza- 
beth, married Susan, the daughter of 
Richard Neville, Lord Latimer, and 
sister of Elizabeth, the wife of Sir 
Christopher Danby, Knt., mentioned 

in the Danby pedigree, ante. By this marriage he had 

several children, but I confine myself to 

Edmund Norton, of Clowbeck, in the parish of Cleasby, 

in Yorkshire, the third son of the above Richard Norton, 

and who was not concerned in the Rebellion of 1569. 

He married Cecily, (the daughter of Matthew Boynton, f 

* The family of Norton is descended from a branch 
of the noble house of Conyers, which is one of hoar 
antiquity and high repute both in Yorkshire and 
Durham, where they formerly held very extensive 
possessions ; but all of them are now gone, and ac- 
cording to Surtees, " not a foot of land is now held 
by Conyers in either county." Their achievement is. 
said to have been before the conquest. 

t The family of Boynton was one of great antiquity in Yorkshire, being 
descended from Sir Ingram de Boynton who lived in the reign of King 
Henry III. 

Sir Francis Boynton, in his will dated in 1614, mentions "my aunt Cecily 
Norton — my uncle John Norton the elder — young Tom Norton — my cousin 
Thomas Norton, Esq., of "VVheldrake — my cousin Norton, my solicitor." 




286 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

of Barmestone, Yorkshire), who was a maid of honour to 
Queen Elizabeth, and died about the year 1602. This 
Edmund Norton died about 1601, leaving the follow- 
ing children : 

I. Francis Norton, who died unmarried. 

II. Richard Norton, who died unmarried. 

III. William Norton, of Sawley, near Ripon, who 
married Margaret, the daughter of William Welbury, of 
Newton- in-Cleveland. He died in 1644, leaving issue, 
from whom the Nortons of Sawley, and the Lords of 
Grantley are descended. 

IV. Robert Norton, of Swinton, near Masham, of whom 
I now proceed to speak. 

Robert Norton, of Swinton, near Masham, just men- 
tioned, appears to have resided in the parish of Wath in 
1593, but to have -afterwards removed to Swinton. He 
married Catherine, daughter and co-heir of John Staveley, 
of Swinton, near Masham, Esq., whose family appear to 
have possessed lands in, and to have resided at, Swinton, 
during several preceding generations. She died at 
Swinton, and was buried at Masham, in February, 1641, 
having survived her husband, who was buried at Masham, 
on the 6th February, 1638. They were both Roman 
Catholics, and were accordingly presented in, and pun- 
ished by, the Ecclesiastical Court at Masham, as being 
Popish Recusants. They had the following children, 
viz: 

I. Mauger Norton, who was baptized at Wath, near 
Ripon, on the 23rd May, 1593. He afterwards took up 
his residence at St. Nicholas, near Richmond, which 
Borough he represented in Parliament. He married 
Anne, daughter of Sir George Wandesford, of Kirklington, 
Knt., who was the grandfather of Catherine Wandesford, 
the wife of Sir Thomas Danby, Knt. This Mauger 
Norton was buried at Richmond, on the 12th December, 
1673, and his wife (who survived him) was also buried 
there on the 23rd December, 1683. They had the fol- 
lowing children, viz : 



PEDIGREES CXF FAMILIES. 287 

I. Edmund Norton, who died before 15th January, 
1657, without issue. 

II. William Norton, a Barrister of Gray's Inn, who 
was born in 1627, and was living in 1658. 

III. Christopher Norton, who was born in 1651. He 
sold St. Nicholas, Richmond, in 1685. He had a 
daughter, 

Anne, who was baptized 24th June, 1673. 

IV. Mary Norton who was baptized 12th July, 1635, 
at Richmond, and married there 20th August, 1651, to 
Sir John Yorke, of Gowthwaite Hall, in Nidclerdale, who 
was M.P. for Richmond in 1661, by whom she had issue, 

I. Thomas Yorke, M.P. for Richmond, who married 
Catherine, the daughter of Thomas Lister, Esq. 

II. Mary Yorke, who married Sir Edward Blacket, of 
Newby, near Ripon. 

II. Richard Norton. 

III. William Norton, of Swinton, near Masham, who 
was baptized 6th March, 1601, at Masham, where he was 
buried 16th November, 1625. He died unmarried. 

IV. Elizabeth Norton, who was baptized at Masham, 
20th January, 1599, and was married to Richard Smurth- 
waite, of Nutwith Cote, near Masham, on the 7th Octo- 
ber, 1635, at Masham, and was buried there 25th Nov- 
ember, 1680. They had isssue, viz : 

I. Catherine Smurthwaite, (daughter and co-heiress) 
who was married at Masham Church on the 11th January, 
1662, to Simon Bartlett, of Richmond, Yorkshire, after- 
wards of Masham (1662 — 8), and afterwards of Nutwith 
Cote. He was buried in Masham Church, 22nd Feb- 
ruary, 1680. She survived her husband and died, and 
was buried at Masham, on the 2nd August, 1697, leaving 
the following children, viz : 

I. Elizabeth Bartlett, who was baptized at Masham, 
24th November, 1665. She was married at Masham 
Church on the 29th June, 1684, to William Beckwith, 
of Lamb-hill, Gent. She had issue an only son who died 
in his infancy. 



288 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

II. Hannah Bartlett, who was baptized at Masham 
30th August, 1668, and was living in 1684, and un- 
married. 

III. Catherine Bartlett, who was baptized at Masham, 
17th November, 1670. 

IV. Margaret Bartlett, who was baptized at Masham, 
23rd February, 1672, and was married there 2nd July, 
1696, to Leonard Fothergill, of Swinton, Gent. 

V. John Bartlett, eldest son and successor, therefore 
of him below. 

VI. Mary Bartlett, who was baptized at Masham 4th 
February, 1678, and married there on the 30th August, 
1699, to Mr. Charles Lister, of Ripon.* 

VII. Simon Bartlett, who was baptized at Masham 
14th June, 1681, and was buried there 24th May, 1684. 

VIII. Richard Bartlett, who is mentioned in the will 
of his grandfather, Richard Smurthwaite, dated Nov. 17, 
1676, as then living. 

John Bartlett (above mentioned) was of NutwithCote. 
He was baptized at Masham 13th June, 1675, and was 

buried there. He married who was buried at 

Masham in August, 1706. He had by his wife the fol- 
lowing children: — 

I. John Bartlett, of Nutwith Cote, who was baptized 
at Masham Feb. 10th, 1705-6. He died Dec. 15, and 
was buried in Masham Church on the 18th December, 
1769, leaving no issue. 

II. Elizabeth Bartlett, who was baptized at Masham 
19th March, 1703. 

III. Catherine Bartlett, who was baptized at Masham 
23rd December, 1704. She married, in 1742, John 
Ascough, of Nutwith Cote, Gent., (who was the eldest 

* Charles Lister's second daughter, Catherine, married William Beckwith, 
of Lamb-hill, near Masham, Gent., who died on the 3rd June, 1762, aged 
sixty-two, and was buried in Masham Church. She died 25th January, 
1776, aged sixty-nine, and was also buried in Masham Church; they had 
issue four daughters, viz : — Mary, Catherine, Elizabeth, and Dorothy. — See 
Inscription on slab in Masham Church. 



PEDIGREES OF FAMILIES. 



289 



son and heir-at-law of Thomas Ascough, of Nutwith Cote, 
who was, in 1730, the heir apparent of Christopher 
Ascough, of Nutwith Cote). She had by her said hus- 
band the following children : — 

I. John Ascough, of Nutwith Cote, Gent, (and nephew 
and heir-at-law of John Bartlett above mentioned, as 
appears by an inscription on a slab in Masham Church). 
He was baptized at Masham 19th Dec, 1743; died on 
the 4th, and was buried in Masham Church on the 6th 
Feb., 1774, leaving no issue. 

II. Thomas Ascough, of Nutwith Cote, who was born 
on the 5th, and was baptized at Masham on the 6th Jan., 
1744-5. In 1772, he married Catherine Fleming. In 
1775, he was described as "the second and only surviving 
issue" of the above mentioned Thomas Ascough and 
Catherine his wife. He died without issue in 1786, or 
1788, leaving his wife him surviving. 

Arms — Azure, a maunch ermine, over all a bend, 
gules. 



HUTTON OF CLIFTON-CASTLE 
ALDBOROUGH-HALL. 

LINEAGE. 



AND 



Matthew Hutton, of Priest-Hut- 
ton, in the parish of Wart on, Lanca- 
shire, descended from an ancient 
family at Hutton Hall, Lancashire. 
He married and had the following 
children : — 

I. Edmund Hutton, of the county 
of Lancaster. 

II. Matthew Hutton, D.D., of whom hereafter. 

III. Robert Hutton, D.D., Prebend of Durham, and 
Rector of Haughton-le-S kerne. He married Grace, 
daughter of Leonard Pilkington, D.D., by whom he had 

u 




290 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIBE. 

issue. He desires, in 1619, to be buried "in the Quyer 
at Haughton, neere his wyfe's stalle under the blew stone 
in the east side of the ehurche." He left by his said 
wife a daughter Anne, who married John Vaux, of 
Darlington. 

Matthew Hutton, D.D., above-mentioned, was born at 
Warton, in the year 1529. He took holy orders, and 
was made Dean of York in 1567 : he was elected Bishop 
of Durham 9th June, and consecrated 27th July, 1589. 
He was translated to the Archiepiscopal See of York on 
the 24th March, 1594. He married thrice, viz: 
Firstly, Catherine Fulmesby, niece to Thomas Godrick, 
Bishop of Ely, in 1564; but she dying soon after, with- 
out issue, he married, secondly, in 1567, Beatrice, the 
daughter of Sir Thomas Fincham, of Finshaw, Knt. She 
having died on the 5th May, 1582, he married, thirdly, 
on the 20th November, 1583, Frances, widow of Martin, 
the son of Martin Bowes, Knt., Alderman of London, 
who survived him. In the year 1598, he purchased the 
Marske Estate, which still remains in the family, being 
now the property of Timothy Hutton, Esq., of Clifton 
Castle. He died on the 16th January, 1605, and was 
buried in York Minster, where a monument is erected 
to his memory. The learned author of the Eboracum 
says of him, u This prelate was a man of great learning* 
and accounted the most able preacher of the age he lived 
in." He had by his second wife the following children: 

I. Mark Hutton, ^ 

II. Stephen Hutton, >all died infants. 

III. Ralph Hutton, j 

TV. Sir Timothy Hutton, his successor, of whom 
hereafter. 

Y. Sir Thomas Hutton, of Popleton, who married 
Ann, the daughter of Sir John Bennet, of Dawley, near 
Uxbridge, by whom he had issue. He died on the 23rd 
January, 1620. 

YI. Thomasine Hutton, who was baptized 17th April, 
1572. She married Sir William Gee, Knt., of Bishop's 



PEDIGREES OF FAMILIES. 291 

Burton, Secretary to, and one of the Council of the North, 
who died in 1611, and is buried in York Minster. She 
had a daughter Jane, wife of Koger Gregory. 

VII. Elizabeth Hutton, who was baptized the 20th of 
March, 1568. She married Richard Remington, D.D., 
Prebendary of North Newbold, in the Church of York, 
and Archdeacon of Cleveland. 

VIII. Anne Hutton, who was baptized 25th Dec, 
1575. She married Sir John Calverley, Knt., of Little- 
burne, in the county of Durham. 

Sir Timothy Hutton, his successor, above mentioned, 
was a Justice of the Peace in 1598 ; was High Sheriff of 
Yorkshire in 1605, and then received the honour of knight- 
hood. In March, 1592, he married Elizabeth, the third 
daughter of Sir George Bowes, ofStreatlam. He died on 
the 6th April, 1629, having charged his son always to keep 
a Levite* in his house. He left the following children : 

I. Matthew Hutton, who died young. 

II. Matthew Hutton, his father's successor, of whom 
hereafter. 

* A clergyman, or chaplain — according to Lord Macaulay, at this period 
■ — " A young Levite — such was the phrase then in use — might be had for his 
hoard, a small garret, and ten pounds a year, and might not only perform his 
own professional functions, might not only be the most patient of butts and 
of listeners, might not only be always ready in fine weather for bowls, and 
in rainy weather for shovel-board, but might also save the expense of a 
gardener, or of a groom. Sometimes the reverend man nailed up the apri- 
cots ; and sometimes he curried the coach-horses. He cast up the farrier's 
bills — he walked ten miles with a message or a parcel — he was permitted to 
dine with the family ; but he was expected to content himself with the 
plainest fare. He might fill himself with the corned beef and carrots ; but, 
as soon as the tarts and cheese-cakes made their appearance, he quitted his 
seat, and stood aloof till he was summoned to return thanks for the repast, 
from a great part of which he had been excluded. Perhaps, after some years 
of service, he was presented to a living sufficient to support him. * * Witk 
his cure he was expected to take a wife. The wife had ordinarily been in the 
patron's service ; and it was well if she was not suspected of standing too 
high in the patron's favour. * * * A waiting woman was generally 
considered as the most suitable helpmate for a parson." — Queen Elizabeth, 
however, in her Injunctions of 1559, enjoined that no clergyman should 
espouse a servant girl, without the consent of the master and mistress. 



292 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

III. Timothy Hutton, who was baptized 22nd Sept., 
1601, and was a merchant at Leeds. He married Mar- 
garet, daughter of Sir John Bennet, Knt., and died 
without issue. 

IV. Philip Hutton (a scholar). He was lieutenant 
in Sir Charles Vavasour's Regiment for the Scottish 
expedition : he married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas 
Bowes, eighth son of Sir George Bowes, Knt., of Streat- 
lam, by whom he left issue. 

V. Beatrice Hutton, who was married at Richmond, 
the 27th November, 1613, to James Mauleverer, Esq., 
of Arnecliffe. She left no issue. 

VI. Frances Hutton, who was married at Richmond, 
26th December, 1615, to John Dodsworth, Esq., of 
Thornton- Watlass . 

VII. John Hutton (a scholar) : he married a daugh- 
ter of — More (a Yorkshire family) and was buried 7th 
August, 1638. 

VIII. Elizabeth Hutton, who married Edward Cli- 
burne, Esq., of Cliburne, in Westmoreland. 

IX. Thomas Hutton, of the Six Clerks' Office: he 
was buried at Marske, 7th May, 1653. 

X. Anne Hutton, who died when an infant. 
Matthew Hutton, last above mentioned, was born 22nd 

October, 1597, and was married at Hornby Castle, in 
Yorkshire (the seat of the lady's father), on the 22nd 
April, 1617, to Barbara, eldest daughter of Sir Conyers 
D'Arcy, afterwards Lord D'Arcy, and sister of Conyers, 
first Earl of Holderness, by whom he had the following 
children : 

I. John Hutton, his successor, of whom hereafter. 

II. Timothy Hutton, John Hutton's twin brother, 
who died 28th June, 1628. 

III. Matthew Hutton, who was born at Richmond, 
30th December, 1621. 

IV. Dorothy Hutton, who was born at Marske, 22nd 
July, 1620, and married to Sir Philip Warwick, Knt. 
She died at Marske, 6th August, 1644. 



PEDIGREES OF FAMILIES. 293 

V. Barbara Hutton, born at Richmond, 30th Dec, 
1630, and was married at Marske, 16th April, 1655, to 
Thomas Lister, Esq., of Bawtry. 

VI. Mary Hutton, who was born at Marske, 4th Feb., 
1637, and married to Eichard Peirse, Esq., of Hutton 
Bonville, by whom she left issue, 

I. John Peirse. 

II. Henry Peirse. 

VII. Elizabeth Hutton, who was born at Richmond, 
8th March, 1628-9. 

VIII. Othy Hutton, who was baptized 8th Nov., 1642. 
John Hutton, Esq., above mentioned, was born at 

Marske, 6th October, 1625, and succeeded to the Marske 
estate. He married Frances, second daughter of Bryan 
Stapylton, Esq., of My ton, and had issue, 

I. John Hutton, his successor, of whom hereafter. 

II. Matthew Hutton, who was born 28th Feb., 1652, 
and died in 1653. 

III. Frances Hutton, who was baptized 7th March, 
1653, and married to Andrew Wanley, Esq., of Ilford, 
Gloucestershire. 

IV. Barbara Hutton, who was born 12th Oct., 1655, 
and buried 19th Feb., 1694. 

V. Olyfe Hutton, who was born 30th Nov., 1656, and 
married to Thomas Alcock, Esq., of Chatham. 

VI. Elizabeth Hutton, who was born in 1656, and 
died 13th August, 1718. 

VII. Henrietta Hutton, who was born Nov., 16G0, 
and buried at Marske, 17th May, 1728. 

John Hutton, Esq., above mentioned, who was born at 
Marske, 14th July, 1659 : he married Dorothy, daugh- 
ter of William Dyke, Esq., of Trant, in Sussex: he was 
buried on the 2nd March, 1730-1 : he had the following 
children : 

I. John Hutton, his successor, of whom hereafter. 

II. Matthew Hutton, D.D., who was born at Marske, 
the 5th January, 1692-3. In 1702, he went to school 



294 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

at Kirkby-hill near Richmond, and in 1704, he removed 
with his master, the Rev. Mr. Lloyd, to Ripon, under 
whose tuition he remained six years. He was admitted 
in Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1710, in which college 
he took his degree of B.A. in 1713, being in the same 
year appointed Chaplain to the Duke of Somerset. In 
1717 he was elected a Fellow of Christ's College, and in 
the same year graduated M.A. In 1726 he was Rector 
of Trowbridge, in Wiltshire. In 1729 he became Rector 
of Spofforth. He was made a Prebendary of York by 
Archbishop Blackburn, who was appointed one of the 
Chaplains to King George II., and went with his Majesty 
to Hanover in 1736. In 1737 he obtained a Canonry of 
Windsor, which, on the 18th of May, 1739, he exchanged 
for a Prebend of Westminster, which he resigned in 
1745, when he became Bishop of Bangor. On the 29th 
December, 1747, he was translated to the Archbishopric 
of York, and in April, 1757, to that of Canterbury. In 
March, 1731, he married Mary, daughter of John Lut- 
man, of Petworth, Sussex, who died in May, 1779. He 
died on the 19th March, 1758, at Duke-street, West- 
minster, and was buried at Lambeth, near the Commu- 
nion Table.* He left issue by his said wife. 

III. Elizabeth Hutton, who was born 30th November, 
1683, and died 23rd May, 1759. 

IV. Frances Hutton, who was born 22nd September, 
1686, and buried at Thornton- Watlass 4th Oct., 1722. 

Y. Dorothy Hutton, who was baptized 8th August, 
1694, and buried 6th May, 1696. 

YI. Barbara Hutton, who was baptized 9th July, 

1697, and buried 8th December, 1720. 

VII. Timothy Hutton, who was baptized 31st March, 
1696. 

VIII. Thomas Hutton, who was baptized January, 

1698, and buried 16th December, 1702. 

* " The Family of Hutton, of Marske, is the only one in the kingdom 
who can be said to have yielded to the Church two English Archbishops, 
who both appear to have been great and good prelates." — Nichols. 



PEDIGREES OF FAMILIES. 295 

IX. Henrietta Hutton, who was baptized 23rd Oct., 
1701, and married 18th February, 1718, to John Dods- 
worth, Esq., of Thornton- Watlass. She died in May, 
1797, and left issue — 

Elizabeth Dodsworth, who married the Rev. James 
Tunstall, by whom she had a daughter, Henrietta Maria 
Tunstall, who married John Croft, Esq., by whom she 
had a son, Sir John Croft, t>art., and Baron da Serra da 
Estrella, and K.T.S., who was born in 1778. 

John Hutton, Esq., above mentioned, was bap- 
tized on the 18th November, 1691. He married first, 
Barbara Barker, of Chapel Town, near Leeds. She 
dying without issue, he, on the 5th March, 1726, married 
secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of James Lord D'Arcy, of 
Navan, in the kingdom of Ireland. In the year 1735 
he bought Clifton Castle from one of the Prestons. By 
his second marriage he had the following issue : 

I. John Hutton, his successor, of whom hereafter. 

II. Anne Hutton, who was baptized 8th January, 
1731, and married to George Wanley Bowes, Esq., of 
Thornton, by whom she had three daughters, their 
father's co-heirs, namely: 

I. Margaret Wanley Bowes. 

II. Anne Bowes, married to Thomas Thornton, Esq., 
late Lieutenant-Colonel of the Coldstream Guards. 

III. Elizabeth Bowes, married to Kev. Robert Croft. 
III. Matthew Hutton, who was baptized 13th October, 

1733; died 31st December, 1782, and buried at Ripon. 

IY. Elizabeth Hutton, was baptized 24th February, 
1734, and married Henry Pulleine, Esq., of Carleton 
Hall, Yorkshire, on the 11th September, 1764. She 
had (among other issue), 

Henry Percy Pulleine, Esq., who was born in 1770: 
he purchased Crakehall in 1814: he married, in 1796, 
Elizabeth, daughter of Anthony Askew, Esq., M.D., of 
London, and niece of Henry Askew, Esq., of Redheugh, 
and had amongst other issue, 



296 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

I. James Pulleine, Esq., now of Crakehall, Justice of 
the Peace, &c. 

II. The Eev. Eobert Pulleine, now the Eector of 
Newby Wiske. 

V. James Hutton, Esq., of Aldborough Hall, near Mas- 
ham: he was baptized 11th June, 1739, and married in 
July, 1793, Mary the daughter of John Hoyle, of Mid- 
dleham: he died 2nd March, 1798, leaving by his said 
wife (who survived him till March, 1803) an only child, 
namely, 

James Henry D'Arcy Hutton, Esq., of Aldborough 
Hall, who was born on the 24th March, 1796: he was 
married in London, on the 9th June, 1821, to Harriet, 
daughter of Eobert Aggas, Esq., of Earsham, Norfolk, 
and died Dec. 31st, 1844, leaving issue, 

I. John Timothy D'Arcy Hutton, Esq., his successor, 
who was born in 1822, and is a Justice of the Peace for 

the North Riding of Yorkshire. He married 

daughter of Thomas March Lamb, Esq., of Middleham. 

II. James D'Arcy Hutton, Esq. 

III. Harriet Emma Hutton, who was born on the 
30th May, 1826, and married the Eev. Eichard Cattley, 
now a minor canon in Worcester Cathedral. She died 
on the 1st December, 1854, leaving an only son. 

John Hutton, Esq., above mentioned, was born 
on the 30th September, 1730, and died at Marske in 
September, 1782. He married Anne, daughter of Eich- 
ard Ling, of Appleby, and by her had four sons : — 

I. John Hutton, Esq., late of Marske, who was born 
24th September, 1774, and died 14th August, 1841, 
unmarried. He was His;h Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1825. 
According to the inscription on a monument in the church 
at Marske, he was a "generous patron of Societies for 
Agriculture, Literature, and Science ; a liberal landlord, 
and kind encourager of all practical improvements ; a 
steady supporter on every occasion of political reform, 




CLIFTON CASTLE. 



P. 297. 



PEDIGEEES OF FAMILIES. 



297 



and a hospitable gentleman in the hall of his ancestors ; 
honoured and beloved by all who entered it as guests 
and as friends." 

II. James Hutton, Esq., a captain in the army, who 
was born 11th January, 1776, and died at Marske, 24th 
January, 1803. 

III. Matthew Hutton, Esq., a captain in the army. 
He died at Macclesfield, in Cheshire, on the 12th De- 
cember, 1813, aged thirty-five, and was buried at his 
own request under the obelisk, at Marske, where he had 
often as a boy sat, enchanted with the beauties of the 
mountain scenery. 

IV. Timothy Hutton, Esq., of Clifton Castle, and 
Marske, was born at Marske, on the 16th October, 
1779, and on the 12th December, 1804, married Eliza- 
beth, youngest daughter of William Chaytor, Esq., of 
Spennithorne. He was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 
the year 1844. 

Arms — Gu., on a fess between three cushions, arg., 
fringed and tasselled, or, as many fleurs-de-lis of the 
field. 

Crest — On a cushion gu., placed lozenge-wise, an open 
book, the edges gilt, with the words Odor Vitce inscribed. 

Motto — Spiritus gladius. 



ASCOUGH. 

LINEAGE. 

Richard Ascoughe, who was possessed 
of the manor of Dalbourne-Norris, New- 
sam, Burstall, Thornton, Waroft, Wor- 
laby, Newby, and other lands, to him 
and his heirs for ever, married the 
daughter of Thomas Broughe, of 
Hackford, and by her had issue, 
Eichard Ascoughe, Esquire, of Pot Grange, near Mas- 




298 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

ham, who married the daughter of Lord Fitzhugh, and 
by her had issue : 

I. William Ascoughe,* who was educated for the 
church, and would appear from his rapid advancement 
in the church to have been a person of great learning. 
He was entered at the University of Cambridge where 
he took his LL.D. degree. He was made archdeacon 
of Dorset; afterwards in the year 1433, was made master 
of Michael House College (which is now incorporated 
with Trinity College), Cambridge, and Secretary to 
Henry VI. On the 10th November, 1436, he was in- 
stalled in the prebend of Sutton-cum-Buckingham, alias 
Bucks, in Lincoln Cathedral. He was raised to the see 
of Salisbury by a Papal Bull, dated 11th February, 
1437. He received the temporalities of his Bishopric on 
the 13th July, in the year 1438, and was consecrated on 
the 20th July, 1438, in the King's chapel at Windsor, of 
which chapel he was canon. He was the first Bishop 
who held the office of Confessor to the King. ' After he 
had filled the see twelve years, viz., in the year 1450, 
the memorable rebellion under Jack Cade broke out, 
when the commotion rapidly spread to every part of the 
kingdom. His tenants being inflamed by the spirit of 
the insurection, flocked to his residence at Eddington, 
on the 29th June, 1450, at the time he was celebrating 
mass. Regardless alike of the sanctity of the place, and 
of his character, they dragged him from the altar to a 
neighbouring hill. Whilst he was on his knees engaged 
in prayer, they dashed out his brains, and stripped him 
to his very shirt, and did not even spare him that, but 
took it and tore it into rags, every one of them taking to 

* Dodsworth in his " Account of the Cathedral Church of Salisbury," 
p. 49, says that Bishop Ascough was the son of " Robert Ascough, of Pot 
Grange, in Yorkshire." Bishop Godwin, however, says that William 
Ascough, bishop of Salisbury, was second son of Richard Ascough, and 
brother of Richard Ascough, of Pot Grange, near Masham. The bishop is 
also stated to be the son of Richard, in Harl. MSS., No. 2118, fo. 4, (British 
Museum). See also " Whitaker's History of Richmondshire," vol. ii., p. 5, 
citing Hopkinson's MSS. 



PEDIGREES OF FAMILIES. 299 

himself a piece to keep as a monument of their worthy- 
exploit. The insurgents concluded this tragedy by 
plundering his mansion, and carrying away with them 
10,000 marks in money. The pretext assigned for this 
outrage was his employment at court, and consequent 
absence from his diocese ; in all probability it was but a 
pretext and nothing more. His mutilated remains were 
interred in the neighbouring house of Bon-hommes. It 
appears by a Kegister which was kept by him that the 
doctrines of Wickliff had continued to spread, not only 
among the laity, but even among the clergy. 

II. Richard Ascoughe, of whom presently. 

III. Peter Ascough (a priest). 

Richard Ascough, Esq. (above named) succeeded 
his father. He married a daughter of Sir John Basern, 
or Bassingburne, of Horton, Knight. He died and was 
buried at Bedale. He left two sons : — 

I. Robert Ascoughe, his successor, of whom presently. 

II. John Ascoughe, Esq., of Cowling, near Bedale. 
He was the founder of another branch of the family whose 
pedigree will be found below. He died the 3rd Hen. VI., 
viz., 8th January, 1425.* 

Robert Ascough, Esq. (above named) succeeded his 
father, and was described as of Pot Grange. He married 
and had a son and successor, 

Richard Ascough, of Pot- Grange, who married Mary, 

* PEDIGREE OF THE AYSCOTJGHS OF COWLING NEAR BEDALE. ' 

John Ayscough, Esq., described as of Cowling, in the parish of Bedale- 
cum-Ayscough, in the County of York, in the 9 Rich. II., 1385, and men- 
tioned in the forgoing Pedigree, married a daughter of Sir John Arncliffe, 
Knt. He died Jan. 8th, 3 Henry VI., 1425, and left a son and successor, 

Sir William Ayscough, Knt., one of the Judges of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas. He married Elizabeth, daughter and one of the heiresses 
of John Calthorp, Esq. He died in 1456, and was buried at Bedale. He 
left two sons, viz. : 

I. John Ascough, from whom Sir Edward Ayscough, Knt., of South 
Kelsey in Lincolnshire, is descended ; and 

II. William Ascough, who is also described as of Cowling. He married 
one of the daughters and co-heiresses of a younger son of Fulthorpe, 



300 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the daughter of Thomas Lascelles, Esq. of Brockenbrough, 
by whom he had three sons : — 

I. Kobert Ascough, his successor (of whom hereafter). 

II. Thomas Ascough. 

III. John Ascough. 

Kobert Ascough (last above named) succeeded his 
father. He married Isabella, the daughter of Thomas 
Strangwayes, Esq., by whom he had an only son, who 
was his successor, viz : 

William Ascough, Esq., who is described as of Pot 
Grange. He married and had the following children, 

I. Ealfe Ascough, his successor, of whom presently. 

II. Guy Ascough. 

III. John Ascough. 

IV. Henry Ascough, who founded the family of 
Askwith, of Newstead.* 

of Fulthorpe, in the County of Durham, and of Hipswell in Yorkshire. 
He died about 35 Henry VIII., 1544, and left a son and successor, viz : 

George Ayscough, of Cowling, who married Alice, sister to Sir Chris- 
topher Wray, of Glentworthe in Lincolnshire, Chief Justice of the Court 
of King's Bench, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He died about 1556, 
and left a son and successor, viz. : 

Christopher Ayscough, of Richmond, who married, and from whom the 
Ayscoughs of Skewsby, in Yorkshire, are descended. 

* PEDIGREE OF THE ASKWITHS OF NEWSTEAD. 

Henry Askwith married Cicely, daughter of William Conyers, of Marske, 
by Catherine the daughter of Sir William Mauleverer, of Arnecliffe, Knt. 
His will is dated 22nd Nov., 1561, and proved at Richmond on the 9th June, 
1562. He left by his said wife the following issue, viz : 

I. Christopher Ascough, of Newstead, who married Jane, daughter of 
Richard Pavor, of Brome, near Spofford. He took part in the putting down 
of the Rebellion of 1569, but died during its continuance. He left by his 
wife the following issue, viz : 

I. Richard Askwith, of Borrowby (1584), who married Agnes, daughter of 
James Westrope, of Cornburgh, by whom he had a son Richard. 

II. Thomas Askwith. 

III. Henry Askwith, who married a daughter of Francis Bainbrigg. 

IV. Cicely, who married Francis Bainbrigg. 

V. Christian, who married Ralph Atkinson. 

II. Simon Ascough, who married a daughter of — Burgh, and relict of 
Mr. Beverley. 



PEDIGREES OF FAMILIES. 301 

V. Thomas Ascough. 

VI. Miles Ascough. 

VII. Lawrence Ascough. 

VIII. Jane, the wife of Steele. 

IX. Elizabeth, the wife of Walker. 

Ealph Ascough, Esq. (above-named) succeeded his 
father, and is described as of Pot Grange. He married 
— the daughter of — Thackwreye, of Sykesworth, in 
Yorkshire, by whom he had the following children : 

I. John Ascough (his successor) of whom presently. 

II. Thomas Ascough. 

John Ascough (above named) succeeded his father. 

He married Alice the daughter of Cooper, by whom 

he had the following children : 

I. Kobert Ayscough (his successor) and of whom 
presently. 

II. Thomas Ayscough, draper, York, of whom Torr 
in his " Antiquities of the City of York," says he " was 
one of the Sheriffs of the city [1592 — 3]. He was born 
at Pott Grange, died the 29th of August, 1609, of the 
age of 71 years, and lies buried in the church of All 
Saints, North- street." He married twice. His first wife 
was Ursula, daughter of Robert Sandwich, of York, 
brewer, by whom he had the following children : 

I. Thomas, who died in his father's life time. 

II. Christopher, who was baptized at St. Crux Church, 
York, in 1577, and married Julian Briggs, of York, who 
survived him, and afterwards married Philip Ayscough, 
of York, as mentioned below. 

III. Alice, who was living unmarried in 1609. 

His second wife was Anne the daughter of Robert 
Ellerker, of Thoulthorpe, gentleman. She was buried 
the 22nd February, 1607 — -8. He had by her a son, 

Thomas, who was living in 1609, at the time of his 

III. George Askwith, who was Curate at Hunton, and died in 1575. 

IV. Adam Askwith, who died in 1594. 

V. Barbara, who married Robert Conyers, of Coatham, by whem he had 
a daughter, Ann Conyers. 



302 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

father's death, by his will dated the 22nd August, 
1609, and proved 6th September, 1609, directed his 
body to be buried in the church of All Saints, North- 
street^ York, "in the side quire there, so neare unto my 
last wife as convenientlie may be," and he bequeathed to 
his daughter Alice Askwith " half a dozen silver spoones 
of th' older sorte with madeshead on them." He also 
mentions his sons Christopher and Thomas, his daughter 
Alice Askwith, and Julian, wife of his son Christopher 
Askwith, also his nephew Kobert Askwith, alderman.* 

III. Christopher Ayscough, citizen of London, who 
was living in 1596, and had issue. 

IV. Margaret, the wife of William Barton, of York, 
who was married in 1572 in St. Crux Church, York. 

V . Maudelin, the wife of John Ascough, of Kilburne, 
afterwards of Thomas Browne, and afterwards of Per- 
cival Metcalfe, whose wife she was in 1596. 

Robert Ayscough, above-named, succeeded his father. 
He was a draper in York. Torr in his " Antiquities of 
the city of York," says of him that he was " Alderman 
and twice Lord Mayor of this city. He was born at Pot 
Grange, died 18th August, 1597 : he lies buried in Crux 
Church under a 'blew' marble in the chancel. He gave 
at his death, to the City, 201b. "f He appears to have 

* The following is a copy of a monumental inscription in the choir of 
the church of All Saints, North-street, York, as taken from the small edition 
of "Drake's Eboracum," (Edit. 1788). 

" Here lieth the bodies of Thomas Askwith and Anne, his wife, late of 
this city of York, and sometime one of the Sheriffs of the same city. Which 
Thomas was born at Pot Grange, who in the seventy-first year of his age, 
and the 29th of August, 1609, departed this life, leaving behind him two 
sons and one daughter, viz : Christopher and Alice, whom he had by Ursula 
Sandwich, daughter to Robert Sandwich, of this city, brewer, and Thomas, 
whom he had by the same Anne, and daughter to Robert Ellerker, of 
Thoulthorpe, gent, being in their time, for good hospitality and other laud- 
able parts, a credit and ornament to this city." His second wife was buried 
in the same church on the 22nd February, 1607 — 8. 

t Thomas Gent, in his " History of York," in speaking of this person, 
says : — " The above Lord Mayor was buried in Crux church, and had this in- 
scription over him, * Here lieth the body of Robert Askwith, late alderman, 



PEDIGREES OF FAMILIES. 



303 



been City Sheriff in 1572-3; to have been elected Al- 
derman of the City on the 3rd of April, 1577, vice 
Gregory Peacock resigned ; and to have been Lord 
Mayor of York in the years 1580 and 1593: and also 
represented the City of York in Parliament from the 
year 1588 to 1592. He married at the church of Saint 
Dennis in York, on the 10th August, 1561, Elizabeth* 




PORTRAIT OF ALDERMAN ROBERT ASCOUGH, OF YORK. 

and twice Lord Mayor of this city, born at Pot Grainge, who the LXXVTI 
year of his age, and on the XVIII day of August, 1597, departed this life, 
leaving behind him four sons and two daughters, viz : Robert, Elizabeth, 
Katherine, Thomas, George, and Philip, being in his time for good hos- 
pitality and other laudable parts, a credit and ornament to this city.' " 

In his will, which is dated 14th February, 29th Eliz., he mentions the 
Lady Elizabeth, his wife, his sisters Dyneley, of Swillington, Magdalen, 
wife of Percival Metcalfe, and Catherine Barton, his brothers Christopher 
and Thomas ; his sons Robert, Thomas, George, and Philip Askwith ; his 
daughters, Katherine, wife of Robert Myers, and Elizabeth, wife of Richard 
Hodgson, and his daughter-in-law, Mary Askwith, wife of his son, Robert 
Askwith. His will was proved on the 23rd August, 1597. 

* Lady Elizabeth Askwith, widow, late wife of Robert Askwith of York, 



304 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the daughter and sole heiress of Thomas Cartmele, of 
York, by whom he had the following children : 

I. Robert Ayscough, his successor (of whom here- 
after). 

II. Thomas Ayscough, who was baptized at Crux 
Church, York, in 1572, and died without issue. 

III. George Ascough (of whom hereafter, he having 
succeeded his eldest brother). 

IY. Philip Ayscough, of York, Gentleman, who was 
baptized at Crux Church, York, in 1578, and married 
Julian Ascough above-named, formerly Briggs. 

Y. Elizabeth, the wife of Richard Hodgson, of Cherry 

Alderman, deceased, by her will dated 27th August, 6 James I., 1608, di- 
rected her body to be buried in St. Crux's church, " on the south side within 
the Chan cell there, eyther in the place wherein my said husband was buried 
or as neere adjoyninge thereto as possible may be It'm, I give & be- 
queath unto my sonne Robert Askwith, Alderman, on' basen & eure of sil- 
ver p'cell guilt, two high olde fashioned saltes of silver, w'th a cover double 
guilte, two great high boules double gilte w'ch I bought of Mr. John Wad- 
desworth, one white shell or nutte barred and sette in silver double gilte, 
one dozen of Apostle spoones & one bowle of silver double gilte, plain, like 

the fashion of a callice To my dau. -in-law the Lady Mary Askwith, 

wife of my said son Robert A., one piece of plate of silver called a Nutte, 
w'th a cover double gilte, wrought w'th silver under the shell and aboute 
the foote, & one sugar boxe of silver w'th a spoone of silver thereto belong- 
inge, one table clothe, one dozen of napkins, & one to well, all of damaske 
worke w'ch I bought of Mr. Christofer Brooke, & one drinkinge napkin of 
damaske, one diaper table cloth fower yardes longe, seaven diaper table nap- 
kins of damaske, one fyne paire of lynnen sheetes, one fore kertle of wrought 
velvette w'ch I bought last, & a branched damaske petticote, my great gilley 
potte, a laddie that doth belong to yt, one drippinge pan, & two hambrough 
pottes, a cheine of golde, & ye purse wherein the same is." The will then 
goes on to give legacies to her daughter Elizabeth, wife of Richard Hodg- 
son, Esq., of Cherry Burton. To her sons Thomas, George, and Philip 
Askwith, and to Sarah Askwith wife of the said George, and thus proceeds, 
" It'm, I give unto Robert Myers, Alderma', and now Lord Maior of the 
Cittie of Yorke, who married Katherine my late daughter, two spurre Ry- 
alls of golde and a ringe of golde w'th a stone in yt, called an ametist, en- 
amilled w'th blacke." She also left legacies to Thomas and Elizabeth Myers 
children of the said Katherine and Robert Myers, and appointed her son 
Robert Askwith, executor of her will, who proved the same at York on the 
22nd of October, 1608. 






PEDIGREES OF FAMILIES. 303 

Burton, Yorkshire, Gentleman, by whom she had issue. 

VI. Catherine, the wife of Robert Mears, or Myers, of 
York. She was baptized at Crux Church, York, in 
1570 ; was married there in 1589, and was living in 
1597. 

Sir Robert Ayscough, above-named, was baptized at 
St. Crux Church, York, 28th December, 1567, and 
succeeded his father. He was also a draper in York — 
was Sheriff of the City of York in 1599-1600, elected 
alderman 22nd April, 1602, and was twice Lord Mayor 
of York, namely, in the years 1606, and 1617, in which 
latter year it is stated in Mcholls' Progress of James L, 
vol. iii., that "On the 11th April, 1617, the King entered 
the city of York. On the 13th, being Sunday, he went 
to the Cathedral, when the Archbishop preached. After 
sermon ended, he touched about seventy persons for the 
king's evil. This day he dined with the Lord Mayor, 
with his whole Court, and after dmner knighted Sir 
Robert Ayscough, the Lord Mayor, and Sir Richard 
Hutton, the Recorder," Sir Robert represented the city 
of York in Parliament in the year 1604, and in several 
subsequent years, having been elected on the 5 th March, 
1604-5— 21st March, 1614-15— and in 1620. This Sir 

Robert Ayscough married Mary , who was living 

in 1596 : having died without issue, he was succeeded 
by his brother, 

George Ascough, who is described as of York : he 
was baptized at Crux Church, York, in 1575, and mar- 
ried Sarah, daughter of Leonard Belt, of the city of 
York, Gentleman, at Crux Church, York, in 1599 : he 
died in the year 1626, and left the following children: 

I. Robert Ayscough, his successor (of whom pre- 
sently). 

II. William Ayscough, who was baptized at St. Crux 
Church, York, in 1609, and died unmarried. 

III. Mary, wife of the Rev. Josias Bell wood, Clerk, 
M. A. She was baptized in St. Crux Church, York, in 1608, 
and married at Trinity Church, Goodram-gate, York, in 

v 



306 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

1637. She left a son, Roger Bellwood, a student in the 
Middle Temple, London, 21st March, 1665. 

IV. Elizabeth, the wife of Christopher Geldard, a 
merchant in York ; afterwards of Abraham Bynns, ano- 
ther merchant in York. She was baptized at St. Crux 
Church, York, in 1611. 

V. Frances, the wife of John Morret, citizen of Lon- 
don. She was baptized at St. Crux Church, York, in 1616. 

VI. Anne, the wife of Anthony Place, of York. She 
was baptized at St. Crux Church, York, in 1618. 

Robert Ayscough, above-mentioned, succeeded his 
father, and is described in u Dugdale's Visitation of 
Yorkshire," in 1665, as being then a of the citty of 
York, set, 59 on 13th September, anno 1665," and as 
having married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Thomas 
Peake, of Thornton, in Lincolnshire. By this marriage 
he had the following children : 

I. William Ayscough, Doctor of Physic, aged 29, on 
the 13th September, 1665. 

II. Robert Ayscough. 

III. Elizabeth Ayscough. 

IV. Martha Ayscough, who died young. 

V. Mary Ayscough. 

Aems. — One, and four, sable, a fess or, between three 
asses passant argent, a crescent for difference, two and 
three — a fret — a crescent for difference. 

Crest — An ass's head arg., charged with a crescent gules. 



LONSDALE OF MASHAM. 

LINEAGE. 

Michael Beckwith, of Nutwith Cote, near Masham, 
Tailor, had by his wife an only daughter, 

Margaret Beckwith, who was married at Masham, on 
the 13th of November, 1698, to John Lonsdale, of Mas- 
ham, grocer. This John Lonsdale died at Masham on 
the 18th of February, 1703 (where he was also buried) 
leaving an only son, 



PEDIGBEES OF FAMILIES. 307 

John Lonsdale, of Masham, gentleman, who was bap- 
tized at Masham on the 19th Oct., 1701. He married 
Mary, the daughter of William Beckwith, Esq., of Lamb- 
hill, near Masham, who died when 36 years old, and was 
buried at Masham on the 20th Sept., 1739. John Lons- 
dale, her husband, died at Masham (and was buried 
there on the 1st of May, 1784), leaving an only son, 

The Rev. John Lonsdale, clerk, B.A., who was bap- 
tized at Masham on the 22nd February, 1738. He was 
married at Scarborough, on the 5th September, 1785, to 
Elizabeth, the daughter of Charles Steer, Esq., of Wake- 
field (born 23rd October, 1749). In 1791 he was living 
at New- Miller- dam, Yorkshire. He died in 1807, and 
was buried at Darfield, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, 
of which place he was vicar. He left, with other issue, a son, 

The Right Rev. John Lonsdale, D.D., Lord Bishop of 
Lichfield. He was born on the 17th January, 1788, and 
christened at Sandal, near Wakefield, on the 8th of March, 
1788. He was educated at Heath School, near Halifax, 
and afterwards at Eton. He afterwards, in 1806, entered 
King's College, Cambridge, of which he became a Fel- 
low, where he graduated B.A. in 1811 — having gained 
Sir William Browne's medals for the best Latin Ode in 
1807, and again in 1809. In the latter year, he also ob- 
tained the Battie University Scholarship. He took the 
degree of M.A. in 1814, and that of B.D. in February, 
1824, and was successively Christian Advocate (1821) at 
Cambridge; Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of 
Canterbury (1822); Prebendary of St, Paul's (1831); 
Principal of King's College London, (1839); Rector of 
Southneet (1839); Archdeacon of Middlesex (1842). 
He was many years Preacher at Lincoln's Inn, and was 
consecrated in 1 843, Lord Bishop of Lichfield. In 
1815 he married Sophia, daughter of John Bolland, Esq., 
M.P., of London, sister to Sir William Bolland, Knt., 
one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer of Pleas, 
and niece of the late Henry Bolland, Roger Bolland, 
Joseph Bolland, and Miss • Bolland, all of Masham. 




VIEW OF MASHAM CHURCH FROM THE SOUTH. 



HISTORY OF MASHAM CHURCH. 



View not this Spire by measure giv'n 
To buildings rais'd by common bands ; 

That fabric rises high as Heaven, 
Whose basis on devotion stands. 

"While yet we draw this vital breath, 
We can our hope and faith declare ; 

But Charity, beyond our death, 
Will even in our works appear. 

Blest be he call'd among good men, 
Who to his God this column rais'd ! 

Tho' lightning shake the Spire again, 
The man who built it shall be prais'd. 



EKf-1 



11CS- 2. 




npmh(®f$§Mk BkmB$ m ffUmfimm (jf^m^m 



MASHAM CHURCH. 309 

Yet Spires and Towers in dust shall lie, 

The weak efforts of human pains ; 
And Faith and Hope themselves shall die, 

While deathless Charity remains. 

Prior. 

The earliest record in which the church at Masham 
is mentioned, is the Domesday Survey, which, as I have 
before mentioned, was compiled under the direction of 
William the Conqueror, soon after the Conquest. In 
that document it is stated that there was then a church 
at Masham. From this we know that our church has 
existed from the times of our Saxon forefathers, but 
nothing further, and we are left to conjecture, by the 
light of contemporaneous history, as to what particular 
period of the Saxon era it had its rise. The building 
itself does not aid us in this enquiry, for no portion of it 
(unless possibly that part of it which is now used as the 
vestry) can be assigned to the Saxon times — the oldest 
part of it being of Norman architecture, and not Saxon. 
The present building, however, is evidently not the ori- 
ginal one, but is a "rebuild," and that, too, upon the site 
of an old building, of a much larger extent, which had 
been burnt down (probably in one of the incursions of 
the Danes, who are known to have ravaged this part of 
the country). During the progress of the late restora- 
tion of the church, a great many stones, which had ap- 
parently formed part of a former building, and of un- 
doubted Saxon masonry, some of them too bearing in- 
disputable marks of having been exposed to fire, were 
found worked up, and built into the walls of the present 
building. And as further evidences of fire, in digging 
in the churchyard, great quantities of charcoal, charred 
wood, and wood-ashes have been found, apparently the 
debris or remains of an extensive fire. The stones of 
Saxon masonry which have been thus worked up again, 
and used in the construction of the present building, is 
an important fact in my present inquiry. Besides which 
some sepulchral slabs, which were brought to light 



310 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

during the restoration, are of unquestionable Saxon 
workmanship, and that, too — if we may judge from the 
character of the figures engraved thereon, and the rude 
workmanship — of a very early date. 

The pedestal to the dial, still standing in the church- 
yard, is also undoubtedly of Saxon workmanship, and 
has formerly been the lower frustrum of an ancient 
Saxon cross. This cross is particularly noticed in Cam- 
den's "Britannia," by Gough, and in Whitaker's "His- 
tory of Richmondshire," where an elaborate engraving 
of it is given. Mr. Longstaffe, too, in his more recent 
work on Richmondshire, also alludes to it, and in re- 
ferring to the scroll work, or carving, upon it, says that 
it has the twelve Apostles round the top, and below are 
figures on horseback, the adoration of the Magi, &c. ; and 
adds, that the form of the chair on which the Virgin is 
sitting, merits notice. 

We learn from history, that the cross originally pointed 
out the spots where Christianity was first preached to 
our forefathers, and near to which the church was usually 
erected, and that it afterwards became part of the deco- 
ration of every church ; and we further learn from the 
like source, that these crosses were generally removed 
from our churchyards at the time of the Reformation, or 
were afterwards destroyed or defaced by the Puritans, 
in their great, but mistaken zeal, for destroying every- 
thing, good or bad, which, according to their own dis- 
tempered notions, at all savoured of Roman Catholicism. 
The latter appears to have been the fate of our beautiful 
church-cross, a circumstance which is much to be de- 
plored. It is said in " Camden's Britannia," by Gough, 
that it was more especially customary to erect crosses at 
the places where Paulinus preached, and celebrated 
divine service, bearing this inscription — " Paulinus hie 
praedicavit et celebravit." Three church- crosses now in 
the churchyard of Whalley, in Lancashire, and one for- 
merly in that of Dewsbury, in Yorkshire, are (according 
to Mr. Walbran, in his " History of Gainford") tradi- 




SUiricni (fross at Masljam. 



MASHAM- CHURCH. < 311 

tionally said to record the preaching of Paulinus, besides 
which there is or was another near Easing wold. As 
the upper portion of our church-cross is lost, we are un- 
able to tell whether it was one of Paulinus' s crosses or 
not, we must therefore look elsewhere for further light 
upon the subject, and especially into the history of our 
early British Church, in this particular district. 

We learn from the early church historians, that 
although St. Paul, or some other of the Disciples, cer- 
tainly planted a Christian church in Britain,^ yet that 
owing to the great persecutions it had to undergo — the 
evil influences of its Pagan rulers — -and other causes, 
most of the early Britains had fallen away from the true 
faith, f and had become Pagan idolators, when Paulinus, 

* Dr. Henry, says, " it appears to be morally certain that the first rays 
of the light of the Gospel reached the south-east parts of this island some- 
time between 43, and 61, a.d." [Namely sometime between nine years and 
twenty-seven years after our Saviour's crucifixion]. See Henry's " Great 
Britain," vol. 1, pp. 187—9. 

Tertullian (writing 1 a.d. 209) says, that "Those parts of Britain even 
into which the Roman arms had never penetrated, were become subject to 
Christ" — alluding to the assertion that Christianity was introduced into 
Britain by some of the Roman soldiers who had embraced Christianity at 
Rome before coming to Britain with the Roman legions. — See Tertullian, 
" Contra Judseos," c. 7. I have already shewn, ante, p. 40, that the Ro- 
mans had penetrated into this district long before the time of Tertullian, 
indeed shortly after the crucifixion of our Saviour. — See note, ante, p. 67. 

Eusebius (writing A.D. 320) says the gospel was preached to the Romans, 
Persians, &c, and those which are called the British Islands. — See Eusebius, 
Demonstr. Evang. lib. 3, c. 7, p. 113. 

Gildas, our own British historian (a.d. 560) affirms that Christianity had 
long been introduced into this country in his own day. — See Gildas' Epist., 
Rudder. Indeed we have undisputed evidence that three British Bishops were 
at the Council of Aries, in 314, and took part in the business of that Council. 

t " There is no truth in the statement so frequently and absurdly ad- 
vanced, that Christianity was driven out of Britain. — True that the Church 

suffered bitter persecutions at the hands of its enemies and that it was 

driven into the mountainous parts of Wales and Cornwall : but that the Britons 
or their Church, were ever driven out of the land is contrary to historical 
fact." — See " The Romans in Gloucestershire," by the Rev. S. Lysons, M.A. 

Theodoret says that there were many churches in Britain in his day, and 
Fuller says that " the Christian faith ever remained in Britain." 



312 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

one of the forty companions of St. Augustine,* the 
Roman missionary to Britain, appeared amongst us a.d. 
625, in the capacity of chaplain to Ethelburga,f the Queen 
of Edwin, the then Saxon King of Northumbria, and 
Bretwalda, or leader of the Britains. Paulinus thus 
circumstanced, and having also by his zealous endeavours 
succeeded in effecting the conversion of the king himself 
(who had previously been a Pagan) thereby acquired 
great influence, which he did not fail to bring to bear in 
also effecting the conversion of the people. In those 
days, the old Saxon kings commonly resided in country 
villages, where they had their halls or hunting seats, and 
from time to time removed from one of these residences 

* Mr. Wright, in his work, " The Celt, the Roman, and the Saxon," gives 
the following account of the circumstances which occasioned St. Augustine's 
mission to Britain : " During the Pontificate of Pelagius II., some boys 
from Saxon Britain, distinguished by their beauty, were exposed for sale in 
the slave-market at Rome. The priest Gregory, as he passed through the 
ancient forum, was struck with their appearance, and on being told that 
they were Pagans from Britain, he lamented that people having such bright 
countenances should remain a prey to the spirit of darkness. Continuing 
the conversation, with the same play upon words, he was told that they 
were called Angles, upon which he observed that it was a just name, for 
they had angelic faces and ought to be the coheirs of angels in heaven. He 
then asked the name of the province from which they came, and was told 
that it was the kingdom of Deira [being the kingdom in which this district 
was then situate]. ' It is well,' he said, ' they shall be de ira eruti, snatched 
from the wrath and brought to the mercy of Christ.' He was next told 
that the name of their king was iElla. ' That,' he said, ' is Alleluiah, and 
it is right that the praise of God should be sung in that land.' Full of pro- 
jects of conversion, Gregory hastened to the Pope, and begged to be em- 
ployed on this distant mission : bat the citizens, with whom he was ex- 
tremely popular, were unwilling to allow of his absence. Nothing further 
therefore, was done towards the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons, until, in 
590, Gregory himself was elected to the Papal See. The Anglian chil- 
dren were then remembered, and Gregory despatched missionaries under 
the guidance of St. Augustine, to visit the distant island." 

f On the treaty for the marriage between Edwin, our then Saxon King, 
and Ethelberga (who was a Christian) it was stipulated that she should not 
only be allowed to follow her own religion, but that she should have Pau- 
linus (one of St. Augustine's missionaries) as her chaplain. Thus it was 
that Paulinus was introduced into this district. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 313 

to another. King Edwin had one, at least, of such halls, 
or hunting seats, in each of the three ridings of Yorkshire, 
as well as some others further north. One of them is 
said to have been at, or near Tanfield,* where he spent 
much of his time. Paulinus, as domestic chaplain to the 
court, necessarily removed from place to place with the 
court, and accordingly embraced those opportunities of 
doing good, by preaching to, and baptizing the people 
wherever he went. It is recorded of his doings, that at 
a place in Northumberland, the number of people which 
flocked to him was so great, that for thirty-six days he 
was engaged from morning until evening in giving them 
daily instruction. His plan seems to have been, not to 
baptize them indiscriminately, but to defer their baptizm 
until the converts could answer the catechism which he 
himself taught them, when he baptized them in the little 
river Glen (in Northumberland) and the clear waters of 
the Swale, at Catterick, and also (as the Venerable Bede 
says) at Brafferton. In an epistle of Pope Gregory to 
St. Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria, on the subject of 
the conversion of the Britains (which seems at the time 
to have attracted considerable attention) is an account of 
Paulinus having, on a Christmas-day, baptized in the 
English river Swale, above ten thousand men, besides an 
innumerable multitude of women and children. The 
truth of such account cannot be doubted, as it is con- 
firmed by the historian, the Venerable Bede, who 
flourished very shortly afterwards, and lived in the im- 
mediate neighbourhood of the place. The occurrence 
gave occasion to the river Swale being afterwards desig- 
nated, as well it might, " the Jordan " of England, and 
to its being very much venerated by our Saxon fore- 
fathers. In connection with this subject, it may not be 

*Mr. Gideon Barker, in Lis "Three Days of Wensleydale," p. 12, says 
" the King resided much at his Palace near Tanfield," but cites no author- 
ity for such statement. The Rev. James Raine, M.A., in his " Fasti Ebor- 
acenses," vol. 1, p. 43, appears also to have been of this opinion, as well as 
Mr. Hodgson Hinde, in his " History of Northumberland." 



314 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

amiss, in passing, to draw attention to the fact, that the 
baptism I have been speaking of, was a public one, and 
that these new converts were not ashamed thus publicly, 
and in the presence of thousands, to acknowledge their 
former errors, to disclaim and renounce their idols, and 
to take upon themselves the yoke of Christ, and fur- 
ther that it was by total immersion (as was the practice 
of the early churches) in an open river, and on a cold 
Christmas-day — a rather severe test, it must be admitted, 
of their sincerity, and of the faith which was in them. 
Their subsequent history, too, shews that they became 
really good Christians, for it is recorded of them, that 
they no sooner received the truths of Christianity, than 
they, with a most fervent zeal, gave themselves up to it, 
by discharging all the duties of Christian piety, and 
amongst these I may include what was then considered 
as of the highest importance — as most needed — the build- 
ing of churches in the j)laces of their heathen temples. 

They listen'd : for unto their ear 
The word, which they had long'd to hear, 
Had come at last — the lifeful word, 
Which they had often almost heard 
In some deep silence of the hreast : 
For with a sense of dim unrest 
That word unborn had often wrought 
And struggled in the womb of thought : 
And lo ! it now was born indeed — 
Here was the answer to their need. 

R. C. Trench. 

Although it is not actually recorded in history, that 
Paulinus did preach here, at Masham, or baptize, in the 
river Yore, as he had thus done on the banks of the 
neighbouring river Swale, it is hardly too much to sup- 
pose that he did not do so (and especially so, if one of 
his residences was at or near Tanfield, as before men- 
tioned) since it is said that he did preach and baptize 
at other places besides the Swale. It will be seen that 
Mr. Raine is of opinion that Paulinus did baptize at 
Tanfield upon the Yore. But even supposing that Pau- 



MASHAM CHURCH. 315 

linus did not personally visit Masham, may I not with 
justice ask, that if he did not come to them, did not the 
people of Mashamshire go to him, and hear his preach- 
ing, on the banks of the Swale or at Tanfield ; and did 
not they form part, at least, of that goodly throng of ten 
thousand men, besides the innumerable multitude of 
women and children, I have before alluded to? Surely 
we will not so libel our forefathers as to say that they 
did not — nay, surely, God's goodness, which has no 
bounds, was not thus confined to the banks of the Swale, 
but extended its beneficent influence to our native hills, 
by disposing the hearts of the people, not only to listen 
to, but embrace with gladness, the Word thus preached 
unto them. Great and mighty, indeed, was the work 
thus effected through the happy instrumentality of Pau- 
linus, and of James, * his deacon, whom he left behind 
him to preach and baptize in this district; and its in- 
fluence extended itself far and wide, and produced a 
mighty change for the better in the manners and feelings 
of the people of the whole district. 

" As were the Britons famous for their zeal 

To gentile gods, while such they did adore, 
So when the heavens to earth did truth reveal, 

Blest was that land with truth and learning's store." 

I would not, however, have it supposed for one mo- 
ment, because I have thus spoken of the good effects of 
the teaching of Paulinus in this immediate neighbour- 
hood, that I would wish by any means to ignore, on the 

* James the Deacon, whom Paulinus left behind him when he fled with 
Ethelburga, the widowed queen of Edwin, after the latter had been slain at 
Hatfield, by the Pagan Penda, A. d. 633, resided at Aikber near Fingall, 
where, it is said, he was very diligent in teaching and baptizing the people, 
but was more especially famous for his great skill in singing, and his fond- 
ness for the Gregorian tones, which he taught as well as chanted. He is 
supposed to be buried in the churchyard at Hawxwell, and to be commemo- 
rated by an ancient cross. — See 1 Raine's " Fasti Eboracenses," p. 44, and 
notes. Mr. Barker, in his " Three Days of Wensleydale," p. 13, says that 
James the Deacon died at a very advanced age. 



— =*WBW«I 



316 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

one hand, the previous existence at the time I have been 
speaking of, of an early British Church : or to make Hght 
of its services, in bringing about the happy change I have 
been speaking of: or, on the other hand, would I wish to 
magnify the importance of the ancient British Church, to 
the disparagement of the Eoman Church (as some of our 
modern Church historians would have us to do). Nay, 
rather would I say, that both of them were the happy 
instruments, in God's hands, in bringing about so good 
glorious a work We have, indeed, much reason to 
know, and to rejoice, that such a Church as the early 
British Church still existed in this country, at the time 
of the mission to it of St. Augustine, and his fellow- 
labourers in the good work — notwithstanding the great 
persecutions which it had had continually to undergo, 
from the Pagan rulers of this country, previous to the 
conversion of King Edwin by Paulinus.* Such, indeed, 
had been its persecutions, that its bishops and clergy, 
and many of its most conspicuous members, had, like the 
Apostles themselves, from time to time, to flee for their 



* See ante, p. 311 in notes. In addition to that which, will he there found 
on this head, I may add the following quotations from Mr. Raine's " Fasti 
Eboracenses" : — " It seems evident that there was in the British Church an 
Eastern as well as a Western element ; indeed, it is quite possible that Judaic 
traditions had been brought to England before the birth of the Redeemer. 
The Eastern origin of the inhabitants of these islands, the frequent visits 
which they received from Asiatic merchants, could not fail to make the 
Britons more or less acquainted, at a very early period, with the truths of 
Christianity, and there are traditions which such a supposition can alone 
explain." — See vol. 1, p. i. " It is evident that Christianity obtained a sure 
footing in this country whilst it was in the possession of the Romans." — 
Ibid, p. 6. " We find that three British bishops, including one from the 
city of York, were present at the Council of Aries, A. D. 314. The same 
Episcopate was also represented at the Councils of Nicaea, Sardica, and Armi- 
nium ; and from the accounts that are preserved of the deliberations at these 
sacred meetings, we may gather that the British bishops were thoroughly 
catholic and orthodox. They were not afraid, also, of standing up for the 
faith when it was imperilled by the machinations of heretics. Against the 
Arians they took so decided a part, that they are mentioned with honour by 
Athanasius." — Ibid, p. 8. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 317 

lives, and to seek refuge for a season in the mountains of 
Wales, and in Scotland, again to come forward when the 
persecutions subsided, or slackened, with hearts burning 
all the more, through their persecutions, with pious zeal, 
to revive and reinvigorate their dying Churches. Thus 
it was that the early British Churches had been kept 
alive within these Isles, through those dark and idolatrous 
ages of our history. It had, indeed, assumed such a degree 
of importance at the time of St. Augustine's mission to 
Britain, that the latter deemed them a sufficiently impor- 
tant body to induce him to endeavour to gain them over 
to his own (the Roman) Church, and with that view 
sought for, and obtained, a solemn conference with the 
bishops, and most eminent of the clergy, of the early 
British Church. The conference, however, came to 
nothing, they having disagreed as to the time of holding 
Easter,* and as to the mode of administering Baptism, 
the practice of the two Churches differing on these points, 
the British Church keeping Easter day on a Sunday, 
between the 14th and 20th of the paschal moon inclusive, 
whereas the Roman Church kept it on the Sunday which 
fell between the 15th and 21st. 

It matters not, however, by whom, or through whose 
instrumentality, the great work was effected, for the 
doctrines and observances of the two churches were at 
that time almost identical, and the teachings of both 
tended to the same end. The effect was, as I have 
already stated, to produce in the min ds of the new con- 
verts an ardent zeal for the building of churches — a feel- 

* It was a great misfortune that they thus disagreed upon these trifling 
matters, and especially so with reference to the time of holding Easter, 
about which both parties were wrong. Dr. Hook says in his " Church Dic- 
tionary," that " Easter-Sunday is not strictly the anniversary day of our 
Saviour's resurrection, but is the day appointed by the Church to be kept in 
remembrance of that event." Had they come to an agreement at that Con- 
ference much bloodshed would have been spared. I here allude to the 
slaughter of twelve hundred and fifty of the British Clergy of Bangor, on 
account of their religion — which took place soon after the conclusion of this 
Conference. 



3L8 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

ing which was very properly encouraged by the teach- 
ings of the church. The consequence of this was that 
great numbers of parish churches were then built in this 
neighbourhood — some of them as early as the time of 
Paulinus himself — and others shortly afterwards.* As 
a proof of the spirit which had thus been evoked in this 
district, for the building of churches, I may refer to 
the speech of St. Wilfrid (who was consecrated Arch- 
bishop of York, a.d. 669) which was delivered by him 
on the feast of the dedication of the church at Kipon, 
which was built by Wilfrid shortly after this time. In 
his address to the princes and people, assembled on that 
memorable occasion, and which lasted for several days, 
he especially refers to the church building which was 
then going on around them.f 

* Mr. Raine in his " Fasti Eboracenses," vol. 1, p. 26, says, " It is diffi- 
cult to say at what time the earliest Churches in the North of England were 
erected. Wilfrid, in his oration at the dedication of Ripon Minster, speaks 
of the holy places which the British Christians had deserted, and that he 
had succeeded in his attempts to recover some of them seems to be partly 
evident from the fact, that under the walls of one or two Saxon Churches in 
the North-Riding of Yorkshire, human remains, belonging to a very early 
period have been disinterred." I may here add that similar human remains 
were lately found interred beneath the walls of Masham Church, when the 
workmen were engaged in digging under the Vestry for the purpose of in- 
troducing the hot- water apparatus for warming the Church. This circum- 
stance alone is some evidence at least, of its Saxon origin. 

The learned antiquary, Dr. Stukeley, in a paper read before the mem- 
bers of the Antiquarian Society on the 30th of October, 1*755, says, "Pau- 
linus built many Churches in Yorkshire — some I have seen, and taken 
drawings of them, particularly that at Goodmanham, where is the original 
Font in which he baptized the heathen high-priest, Coifi. He built North- 
allerton Church, now remaining. His effigy is placed on the outside of it." 
— Archeeologia I., 44. 

Mr. Barker, also, in his " Three Days of Wensleydale," in speaking of 
the church at Thornton-Steward says, " The Church, one of the oldest in 
Wensleydale, stands half-a-mile west of the village. Although this Church 
is not (as Dr. Whitaker supposed) Saxon, there is every reason to believe 
that one has occupied its site ever since the days of St. Paulinus." 

f Oswald, too, is said to have filled the kingdom with the Monasteries 
and Churches. Parish Churches had, indeed, become so numerous early in 
the ninth century, as to call forth a particular Canon to be enacted at the 



MASHAM CHURCH. 319 

The conclusion to which these circumstances leads us 
is, that our church is one of the many churches which 
sprung up in this district in consequence of the preach- 
ing of Paulinus in this neighbourhood, and in, or soon 
after, his day. 

Masham church was no doubt built, and endowed 
(as was the custom in those days) by, and at the expense 
of, the great Thane, or Lord of the place, for the use of 
himself, retainers, vassals, and tenants, he retaining to 
himself the patronage of the church. We are not, how- 
ever, made acquainted with the name of the great Thane,* 
or lord, to whom we are indebted for our church, and 
its very ample endowment. 

The first Lord of Mashamshire whom we find dealing 
with the patronage of Masham church was Nigel de 
Albini (the father of Koger de Mowbray), who as such 
was patron of the living, a.d. 1135, and presented his 
kinsman Samson de Albinif to the church of Masham, 
along with the church at Kirkby Malzeard, and other 
churches in his gift. 

Council of Celichyth, in the year 816, for the regulation of their consecra- 
tion ; and we find that in the time of Edward the Confessor, it was made a 
matter of complaint on the part of the clergy of the old churches, that, 
" now there be three or four churches, where in former times there was but 
one, and so the tithes and profits of the priests [of the old churches of course] 
are much diminished." — See Ken. Par. Ant., 586 — 587. Not only did 
Parish churches spring up thus early in this district, but Monasteries as well. 
The first monastery known to have been erected in Yorkshire, was that of 
Lastingham, near Kirkby-Moorside, A.D. 648. The second was founded at 
Tadcaster, Newton Kyme, or Aberford, in 655. The third was at Whitby, 
in 657. The fourth was at Gilling near Richmond, founded before 659 ; 
and the fifth was founded at Ripon in 661 — besides five others which were 
established in this County before the Conquest. 

* It was one of the qualifications of a Thane that he should have five 
hides of his own land, and a church. 

t Samson de Albini appears to have been living, and to have held the 
Rectory of Masham, in the year 1145, when Roger de Mowbray founded 
the Priory of Newburgh, as his name is attached as a witness to Roger de 
Mowbray's Charter of Foundation of that Priory, as " Samson, Clark of 
Massam." 



320 MASHAM AND MASH AMS HIRE. 

Eoger de Mowbray (the son of Nigel de Albini) hav- 
ing succeeded his father in the lordship of Mashamshire, 
and as such in the patronage of the church, and having 
a.d. 1145, founded a Priory of Black Canons at New- 
burgh, he very soon afterwards granted the churches of 
Masham, and Kirkby Malzeard, in free alms to the 
canons of Newburgh for ever, as will be seen on referring 
to a copy of this grant which will be found in the Ap- 
pendix hereto. And by another charter (an extract 
from which will also be found in Appendix C hereto) 
Samson de Albini (before alluded to, as the person to 
whom Nigel de Albini had, in his time, granted the 
churches) released to the abbey at Newburgh, all his 
interest in the church at Masham, and the other churches, 
stipulating, however, that while he (Samson de Albini) 
remained a secular ecclesiastic, he should retain full pos- 
session thereof, and that upon his assumption of monastic 
vows, or his decease, his son Roger should hold the same 
churches, he, the son, being supported during his mi- 
nority out of the profits ol the church of Masham. 

It appears by these two charters, and by other docu- 
ments relating to the church, that Eoger de Mowbray 
was at this time very anxious to endow his newly founded 
Priory of Newburgh, with these churches, but the sub- 
sequent history of the rectory of Masham shews that 
such intention was never effectually carried out. This 
was a subject which puzzled the learned Dr. Whitaker 
when writing his " History of Richmondshire." I hope, 
however, by the aid of information which was not known 
to Dr. Whitaker, to clear up the mystery, and to be able 
to shew how it happened that these churches did not 
continue to be the property of the canons of Newburgh, 
as intended by Roger de Mowbray, their founder and 
patron. 

It has already been shewn, that Nigel de Albini, the 
father of Roger de Mowbray, had already conferred this 
church, with six others, on Samson de Albini, and fur- 
ther, that by the Charter of Confirmation by Samson de 



MASH AM CHURCH. 321 

Albini, of Eoger de Mowbray's grant of this church to 
the abbey, the prior, and monks of the abbey, were to 
derive no benefit or advantage whatever from the dona- 
tion, during the life-time of Samson de Albini, or even 
during the life-time of Samson de Albini' s son Roger. 

It appears too that the abbey was of the Order of 
Black Canons, and not being founded until after the rule 
of St. Austin was promulgated, the prior and canons 
were prevented from taking the cure of souls in the 
parish; it would seem, therefore, that the diocesan had 
interfered, as he had power to do (his consent being ne- 
cessary to the Confirmation of the grant) in order to se- 
cure religious ordinances to the parishioners of Masham, 
when the church should become vacant by the death of 
Samson de Albini, or of Eoger his son, for it should be 
remembered that appropriations to religious houses were 
then far from being encouraged by the bishops. Thus, 
from the necessity existing of filling the church when- 
ever the vacancy should occur — the incapacity of the 
prior and canons to undertake the charge and cure of the 
parish — coupled with their remote interest in the profits 
of the benefice, it is evident that the archbishop of York 
had refused to give his assent to the grant, without 
which assent the grant would be inoperative. This in- 
deed sufficiently appears by the very terms of the grant 
itself, which it will be seen prays the archbishop's assent 
to that his gift by the authority of his, the archbishop's, 
writing, and by the absence of such consent to the grant. 

The grant of the Church to the Priory of Newborough 
having thus failed to take effect, we next find that Eoger 
de Mowbray, by another charter, without date, but made 
during the occupation of the archiepiscopal see of York 
by Eoger de Bishopsbridge (who held it between the 
years 1154 and 1181) granted "to God and St. Peter of 
York, and to the Archbishop Eoger, and his successors 
for ever, the Church of Masham, &c, in pure and perpe- 
tual alms, so that it may be henceforth a Prebend in the 
Church of St. Peter of York, my sons Nigel my heir, 

w 



322 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

and Robert, consenting." And it further appears, by 
the following extract from the record known as the 
"Greate White Peignter," fo. 346, that Roger, the arch- 
bishop, confirmed to the Church of St. Peter at York, 
the Church of Masham, Kirkby Malzeard, &c, and thus 
Masham became a Prebend of the Cathedral Church of 
York, and the richest stall in that Cathedral, as we shall 
see presently. 

Very soon after the establishment of this Prebend, we 
find that William Fitz- Richard, Canon of York, granted 
to the Prebend of Masham certain land, on condition 
that the Prebendary should sing mass for the soul of 
King Richard I., of good memory. 

The next reference to the Church of Masham we find 
in the Taxation of Pope Nicholas, taken a.d. 1291, in 
which the Prebend of Masham is rated as worth £166 
13s. 4d. (which was a very large sum of money indeed 
at that day, especially when we consider that £8 a-year 
was then considered an ample stipend for a parish 
priest). It was also rated at the same sum, in 1340, 
and continued to be so rated down to the time of the 
dissolution of the Prebend on the eve of the Reformation. 

Dr. Whitaker, in his "History of Richmondshire," 
thus speaks of the Prebend of Masham: — "Masham was 
the Golden Prebend in the Cathedral of York, being 
valued, in 1534, at £136 per annum, and as the corps 
of that Prebend consisted, as appears, solely of the Rec- 
tory Manor of this parish, it follows that the valuation 
was higher than that of any other benefice in the kingdom, 1 '' 
This circumstance, as in many other instances, led to its 
fall, the Prebend of Masham having been dissolved, and 
converted into a lay-fee, by Archbishop Holgate. It 
also accounts for another fact, which is the high rank 
and celebrity of many who held this Prebend." 

This description of the Prebend of Masham, by Dr. 
Whitaker, is not by any means overcoloured, for other 
authors besides him describe it as having been the rich- 
est and best endowed Prebend in the whole Church: 



MASHAM CHURCH. 328 

and further, it would seem, on a perusal of the following 
table, or list, of persons who have held this Prebend, 
that it was sufficiently wealthy and important to have 
attracted the attention of the Pope of Rome to it, and to 
be worthy of the acceptance of the highest dignitaries of 
the Church, not even excepting the Pope's own near 
relatives and the Cardinals of the see of Rome, two of 
such Cardinals having not thought it beneath their dig- 
nity, and high station, to accept it and its revenues. 

The following is a list of the several persons who have 
occupied the prebendal stall of Masham in the Cathedral 
Church of York, from the time of this church being first 
made prebendal (about 1158) down to the time of its 
dissolution by King Henry VIII., A. d. 1546; with foot 
notes thereto, containing notices of the several persons 
mentioned in the list. 

A List of the several Prebendaries of the Pre- 
bendal Church of Masham from the time of its being 
first made prebendal (about 1158) down to the time of 
its dissolution by King Henry VIII., 1546. 

About a.d. 1158. Roger de Albini.* 

Roger or Bogo de Clare. f 

* Roger de Albini was the first Prebendary, after the church was made 
prebendal, as mentioned in the text. He was the son of Samson de Albini, 
before alluded to, and nephew of Roger de Mowbray. He must have been 
very young when he was made a Prebendary, or Canon of the Church, as it 
will be remembered that he is stated in one of the charters already men- 
tioned, to have been then a minor, and that his father, with true paternal 
solicitude, therein stipulates, that a provision should be made for him out of 
the Rectory of Masham during his minority. I would here observe, that he 
is neither the first nor the last stripling who has been thus provided for by 
Mother Church. He held the Prebend for a very long time, and was suc- 
ceeded by Roger, or JBogo de Clare, some time before the 9th of April, 1278, 
but how long before I have not been able to ascertain. 

t Roger de Clare, or Bogo de Clare, the next Prebendary of Masham 
Church, was a son of the great Earl of Gloucester, and was famous as being 
a great pluralist in the Church. He was Rector of St. Peter's in the East, 
in Oxford, and in the 8th Edw. I., 1279, was presented by his father (the 
Earl of Gloucester) to the Church of Wyston, in Nottinghamshire, when he 



324 MASHAM AKD MASHAMSHIft^ 

'Robert de Lacy, clerk.* 
11th T itip 129^ - Theobald Cormand, a kinsman of the 
' | Earl of Barr, 

^Boniface de Salucis. 

obtained a dispensation from the Pope of Home to hold it, together with on© 
church in Ireland, and. fourteen other churches in England, in nine different 
dioceses. The Rev. James Raine, M.A., in his " Fasti Eboracenses," vol. 1, 
p. 305, says of him — " The history of this man is a most remarkable one. 
His noble blood, perhaps, made him spurn authority, and he paid no atten- 
tion whatever to decency and discipline. At one and the same time he held 
as many as eighteen livings, in addition to the Treasurership at York, and 
the deanery of Stafford. On one occasion, when a royal official served a 
writ at his house in London, Bogo's servants compelled the unhappy man to 
eat up the document, seals and all ! Of course his parishes were grievously 
neglected, for Clare merely valued the income which they produced. The 
Treasury at York was in such a state during his rule, that it was reported 
against him that the vestments and ornaments of the church were often used 
by women in childbed. In the church of Simonburn, in Northumberland, 
whilst he was rector, the chronicler of Lanercost observed in the place of the 
carving which ought to have been behind the altar some wicker work taken 
evidently from a stable, and still smeared with the dung of oxen." — This 
Roger de Clare was not only a very powerful man, but a very troublesome 
fellow. It is but right, however, to add, that in return for these good things, 
he gave much to religious houses, several of which he founded. It will be 
seen that he held the Prebend on the 9th April, 1278, when Masham Vicar- 
age was ordained. 

* In the year 1295, it appears that this Prebend was vacant, which having 
attracted the attention of Pope Boniface VIII., he by his Papal Bull, formed 
out of it three Prebends, each to be worth fifty marks per annum sterling, 
and assigned the remainder of the revenues of the Prebend to the common 
use of the Dean and Chapter of York. He assigned these three newly- 
formed Prebends to the three persons mentioned in the text. In obedience 
to this Bull, John le Romayne, the then Archbishop of York, on the 11th 
June, 1295, issued his mandate from his Castle at Cawood, to the following 
effect : — 

" I, by the permission of God, &c, to our Deane and Chapter of Yorke, 
greeting, grace and benediction. Because out of the Prebend of Masham, in 
our Church of Yorke, being voyd, we have constituted and ordayned, by 
Apostolical Bull, three Prebends, fully equal in value, that is to say, each of 
them may be worth yearly fifty marks, wholly assigning the remainder of 
the profits of the same Prebend of Masham, while it was entire, to your 
common use, as it will more fully appear by our ordinance, and we have 
given in charity, the first of the said equal Prebends to Master de Lacy, our 
clerk; tthe second to Theobald Cormand, the clerk of the nobleman Earle of 



MASHAM CHURCH. 325 

a.d. 1309. John de Grandison.* 

Bar ; and the third to Boniface de Salucis, clerk. "We command ye that, 
admitting the said Robert, Theobald, and Boniface, to be brothers, fratres, 
and canons, ye duly assign unto them, or their representatives, in their name, 
by reason of these Prebends, their stalls in the Quire, and their places in the 
Chapter, further executing in their persons, after the accustomed manner, 
what to ye belongeth. Dated at Cawood, 11 Kalendar June, 10th year of 
our reign." 

Mr. Raine, in his " Fasti Eboracenses," vol. 1, p. 341, in his Life of this 
Archbishop, says, in reference to this transaction, that, " he contemplated 
also the division of the stall of Masham into three, and that of Langtoft into 
two. The arrangements for the last step seem to have been nearly com- 
pleted, and canons were actually appointed ; but the proposed scheme, after 
all, seems to have fallen through, and it was never attempted afterwards. 
The King put his veto upon the project, and the life of Romanus was too 
short, and his influence at Court too small, to enable him to obtain the con- 
sent of the sovereign." — See "Reg. Romanus," Prynne iij, 783; Act. Capit. 
Ebor. 15. 

All the three canons here named were of noble families, and persons of 
great influence in their day. Robert de Lacy was of the family of the De 
Lacies, Earls of Lincoln ; Theobald Cormond was of the family of the Compte 
de Barr ; and Boniface de Salucis was an ecclesiastic of such high position 
and influence, that his diocesans had great difficulty in restraining him, 
and keeping him in due subjection. 

I may here mention that the names of these three last-mentioned Preben- 
daries are all omitted in Torr's, as well as in all other lists of the Prebendaries 
of York. This may probably be accounted for, for the reasons mentioned by 
Mr. Raine before alluded to. 

* John de Grandison, who came in as Prebendary in 1309, was born at 
Ashperton, in Hertfordshire, and is said to have been descended from the 
noble house of the Grandisons, Dukes of Burgundy, his father being William, 
brother to Otto, or Otho de Grandison, the great Lord Grandison who accom- 
panied Prince Edward to the Holy Land, and was afterwards Governor of 
the Islands'of Guernsey and Jersey, and Secretary to King Edward L, by 
whom he was sent on an embassy to Rome. John de Grandison is described as 
having been a very studious and learned man, and to have been in high 
favour with Pope John, being one of his Privy Council, and a legate or 
nuncio to several states on matters of great importance. In 1345, he was 
sent by the King on an embassy to Rome. He was appointed Archdeacon 
of Nottingham, and was afterwards (1327) advanced to the Bishopric of 
Exeter, which see, it is said, be held for near forty- two years. He died on 
the 15th July, 1369, and was buried at Exeter. It is supposed that he re- 
signed the Prebend of Masham in 1316. 



326 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIHE. 

About a.d. 1316. William de Ayremin.* 

About „ 1340. John de Ufford.f 

„ 1348. Reginald Brian, j 

„ 1350. Andrew de OfFord.§ 

„ 1363. Cardinal Andoin Aubert, or Albert. 

* William Ayreman was descended from an ancient family in Lincoln- 
shire. He was one of the surpliced ecclesiastics who fought at the battle of 
Myton-upon- Swale, on the 12th October, 1319, when he was taken prisoner 
by the Scots. He was made Bishop of Norwich by the authority of the 
Pope, and was consecrated 13th September, 1325. He was made by the 
King Lord Chancellor of England. He died on the 27th March, 1337, and 
was buried at Norwich. 

It appears that the churchyard at Masham had at this time been dese- 
crated, most probably by the spilling of blood in it, for I find that on the 
12th April, 1318, a commission was granted by Archbishop Melton to one 
of the suffragan Bishops, authorizing him to reconcile the churchyard of 
Masham. 

f John de Ufford was the son of Baron Robert de Ufford, and brother to 
Robert de Ufford, who was created Earl of Suffolk, and achieved the highest 
military renown by his skill as a leader at the celebrated Battle of Poictiers. 
John de Ufford was promoted to the Deanery of Lincoln and the Chancel- 
lorship of England, and upon the King's request he was made by the Pope 
Archbishop of Canterbury in 1348. He was, however, never consecrated, 
having died of the great plague at Tottenhall on the 7th June, 1348. 

X Reginald Brian was the first Bishop of St. David's, and from thence 
was translated to the see of Worcester in 1352; and in 1361 was nominated 
by the Pope to the see of Ely, but died of the plague at Alnchurch on the 
10th December, 1361, before his translation thither. 

§ Andrew de Offord was Archdeacon of Middlesex, and died in 1358. 
On the 28th January in that year his goods were sequestered for a cap and 
palfrey which were due on his death to the cathedral at York. After his 
death the prebend of Masham remained vacant for a short time, when it 
was seized upon and filled by Pope Urban V., by the appointment by him of 
the two Cardinals mentioned in the two following notes. 

|| Cardinal Andoin Aubert, or Albert, was presented to the prebend of 
Masham by the Pope. He was a nephew of Pope Innocent VI., and was a 
man of great learning, especially in civil and canonical jurisprudence, in 
polite literature, and in Church history. He was raised in 1349 to the Epis- 
copal see of the church of Paris; in 1350, to that of Auxerre; and in 1352, 
to that of Maguelone. His uncle Pope Innocent VI. made him Cardinal 
Priest (by the title of St. John and St. Paul) on the 15th February, 1353. 
He died on the 9th May, 1363, and left all his wealth to a college in the 
University of Toulouse, which he had founded in his life-time, and where a 
number of young people were to be supported during the time of their study 
in humanity, philosophy, and the liberal arts. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 327 

a.d. 1363. Cardinal William de Aigrefeuille.* 
„ 1370. Robert de Stratton.f 
„ 1381. John Mowbray. 
„ 1385, William de Norton. 
„ 1387. John Stacy.J 



* Cardinal "William de Aigrefeuille was a near relative of Pope Clement 
VI. He took the habit of a Friar among the Benedictines of the congre- 
gation of Clugny, and was Prior of St. Peter, of Abbeville. His relative 
Clement VI., having been raised to the Pontificate, he gave him the Arch- 
bishopric of Saragossa, in the kingdom of Arrogan ; and afterwards, in the 
year 1350, made him Cardinal, and employed him in several matters. And 
Pope Urban V., whom he followed to Rome, dispatched him legate to 
Naples. He died at Viterbo on the 11th October, 1369. 

In " An Inventory of all the jewels, vases of gold and silver, and other 
ornaments, vestments, and books, pertaining to the cathedral church of York, 
in the custody of the under-treasurer of the same church, in jewels and other 
things, as appears below, together with the money in the chest of St. Peter, 
is the following : — Chalices, xxxx. One chalice, silver and gilt, with a paten 
of the gift of the Lord Cardinal of Palestrina, formerly Prebendary of 
Masham, weighing 21bs. 5|oz., with arms at the foot and three scalops, 
[shells] and a lion." From this it would seem that another Cardinal had 
held the Prebend of Masham besides the two before-named, but of whom I 
have no account, and have therefore not inserted his name in the list of pre- 
bendaries. Palestrina is the modern name for Proeneste, one of the most 
ancient Greek cities in Italy, and is now a town in the Papal States, about 
twenty-three miles distant from Rome. 

f Robert de Stratton was admitted to the Prebend of Masham in 1370, 
but his admission to it does not appear to have been registered till between 
the 8th and 19th March, 1374. According to Torre he was presented to this 
Prebend by the Pope, but this I think doubtful. It is said in Add. MSS., 
21,089, fo. 89 (British Museum) that he was "A Canon of Lichfield and 
Chaplaine to the Blacke Prince, utterly unworthy -of so high preferment, 
being an illiterate fellow. He was twice rejected, both by the Pope and the 
Archbishop of Canterbury, for insufficiency, yet at the said Prince's earnest 
suite for him, two other Bishops were appointed to examine him, who ap- 
proved and permitted him consecration," [as Bishop of Coventry and Lich- 
field, on the 26th September, 1360]. After holding the see of Coventry and 
Lichfield for twenty-five years he died at his Manor-house at Heywood, on 
the 28th Marcb, 1385. 

% John Stacey was Prebendary of Banbury, in the cathedral church of 
Lincoln. He died in 1394. When the learned antiquary Dodsworth visited 
Masham church on the 19th October, 1622, there was the following Inscrip- 
tion on the east window, " Pray for Sir John Stacey, Prebendary of the 
Prebend of Masham."— Dodsworth's MSS. in Bod. Lib., No. 5,101, vol. 160. 



328 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

a.d. 1395. JohnRoos. 
1396. John Bere. 
1402. Thomas More.* 
1421. William Kinwoldmersh. 
1426. Henry Bowett.f 
1447. George Neville. J 
1456. Roger Radclif.§ 
1471. John Shirwood.l 



11 
11 

11 

11 
11 
11 

* Thomas More was Dean of St. Paul's, London, into which he was ad- 
mitted in 1406. He died in 1421, and was buried in St. Paul's cathedral. 

f Henry Bowett was Archdeacon of Richmond, to which he was collated 
on the 6th Sept., 1418, on the death of Stephen le Scrope the then Archdeacon. 

J George Neville was only some seven or eight years old when he was 
collated into the pretend of Masham. When, however, it is considered that 
he was brother to Richard, Earl of Warwick, the " King-maker," we cease 
to be surprised, for if his brother could make and unmake kings, as it is said 
he could, and did, it was not unlikely that he could also make a good canon 
out of a boy of seven or eight years old. He was also first cousin to King 
Edward IV. But George Neville did not stop here, for on the 25th Novem- 
ber, 1455, he was made Bishop of Exeter, when, as Bishop Godwin says, he 
was not fully twenty years of age ; in 1460 he was created Lord Chancellor 
of England ; and in 1465 he was made Archbishop of York. On the death 
of his brother, the Earl of Warwick, at the battle of Barnet, 14th April, 
1471, he was accused of Treason, imprisoned for four years, and died of a 
broken heart, soon after his liberation, on the 8th June, 1476, and was buried 
in York Minster. He had, however, ceased to hold the Prebend of Masham 
from the time of his becoming Bishop of Exeter, in 1455. 

§ Roger Radcliff was Dean of St. Paul's, London, into which he was 
collated in 1468. He died in 1471. It appears by the Fabric Rolls of York 
Minster, dated 1473, that a mortuary of 16s. 8d. was paid at his death to 
that Cathedral, as the price of a horse to which the Cathedral became enti- 
tled at his death. 

|| John Shirwood, D.D., was, according to Add. MSS. 21089, fo. 258 
(British Museum), "A Carthusian Friar — was a good poet, an exact Grecian, 
and an excellent divine. Before he was Bp. of Durham he had been the 
King's Soliicitor in the Court of Rome, whence he brought many rare 
Greek authors with him at his return." He was collated Archdeacon of 
Richmond 14th July, 1465, and was elected Bishop of Durham January, 
1484-5. Mr. Longstaffe, in his " History of Darlington," p. 91, says of him, 
" He walked on one hand of Richard [King Richard III.] at his Coronation, 
forgetful of many favours conferred by the late monarch, and for some reason 
had not the temporalities restored till within sixteen days of that bloody 
battle in which the crown was torn from the house of Plantagcnet and placed 
on the brow of Tudor." He died on the 12th January, 1493. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 329 

a.d. 1484. John Blythe.* 
„ 1493. Henry Carnebull. 
„ 1508. Richard Dudley.f 
„ 1536. Thomas Bedill.J 
„ 1537. William de Willyford.§ 
„ 1537. Eobert Peterson.|| 

On the 5th of March, 1546, Archbishop Holgate, by 
licence from King Henry VIII., granted the Prebend of 
Masham to Chancellor Wriothesley, and his heirs, where- 
by it became a lay-fee, and so it was dissolved, after 
having existed some four hundred years, and had been 
filled by the highest dignitaries of the church. 

* John Blythe, LL.D., was descended from William Blythe, of Leeds 
(who was his grandfather), his father heing William Blythe, of Norton, in 
Derbyshire. He was brother to Jeoffrey Blythe, Lord Bishop of Coventry 
and Lichfield, and nephew of Thomas Kotherham, Archbishop of York. 
He was installed Archdeacon of Huntingdon, by proxy, June 13th, 1478; 
into the Prebend of Masham, 1484; into the Archdeaconry of Richmond, 
8th October, 1485 ; as Master of the Rolls, 1492. He became Bishop of 
Salisbury on the 23rd February, 1493, and the year after his consecration, 
viz., 1494 he was Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. He died on 
the 23rd August, 1499. 

f Richard Dudley was Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral, and died in the 
year 1536. 

J Thomas Bedill was Archdeacon of Cornwall, and Prebendary of Lincoln. 
He acted as Clerk of the Council on the consecration of Cranmer as Arch- 
bishop of Canterbury, and also on the trial of King Henry VHL's Queen 
Catherine, before Cranmer, at Dunstable, in May, 1533. There is amongst 
the State Papers a letter addressed by him to Lord Cromwell, giving an 
account of the proceedings on the Queen's trial, which discloses facts highly 
disgraceful to both him and Cranmer. He was also afterwards sent along 
with Fox, the Almoner, by King Henry VIII. to Queen Catherine, to induce 
her to forbear using the title of Queen, when she refused to comply with 
their unreasonable request. On the 3rd July, 28 Henry VIII. , A.D. 1536, he 
demised unto John Forswyck, Esq., Treasurer of the first fruits and tenths, 
for the term of fifty years, the Prebend of Masham, with all the houses, 
lands, tithes, and obventions to it belonging (except the mansion place 
, within the city of York), for £136 13s. 4d. a year rent. He died in 1537. 

§ William de Willyford was a Prebendary in Lincoln Cathedral. He 
died in 1537. 

|| Robert Peterson was the last Prebendary who held the Prebend of 
Masham. Having resigned it in 1546, it then became dissolved. 



330 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

King Henry VIII. having thus possessed himself of 
the revenues attached to this and other prebends, as well 
as of some other religious establishments which had 
shared the same fate, he gave the revenues of the prebend 
of Masham, to the Master, Fellows, and Scholars of 
Trinity College, Cambridge (which he had shortly be- 
fore founded) as an endowment. Thus it was that 
Trinity College, Cambridge, became, as they still con- 
tinue to be, the owners of the great tithes of the parishes 
of Masham and Kirkby-Malzeard, and the patrons of those 
livings. 

Notwithstanding that the prebendal church of Masham 
has been from time to time filled by such high digni- 
taries of the church, it must not be supposed that the 
people of Masham fared any the better for it. It is true 
that for more than one hundred years after the church 
had been erected into a prebend, the prebendaries had 
themselves the cure of souls within the parish, and had 
by themselves personally, or by curates or chaplains ap- 
pointed by them, to discharge the duties required of them 
within the parish. Such being the case, whilst the re- 
venues were being withdrawn from the parish for the 
support of its non-resident prebendaries, the duties of the 
cure were discharged by stipendiary curates or chaplains, 
liable at any moment to be dismissed from their cures. 
To remedy this evil, hi the reign of King Stephen, viz : 
the 5th April, 1278, a vicarage was ordained for the on 
parish, by which it was settled by the Dean and Chapter 
of York, with the consent of Roger, or Bego de Clere, 
(the then prebendary of the prebendal church of Masham) 
that the revenues arising from the prebend should be 
apportioned between the prebendary and the vicar, as 
follows : that the vicar and his successors should have, 
for ever the whole altarage* of the church, excepting the 

* Altarage properly comprehends not only the offerings made upon the 
altar, bat also the profit which accrues to the priest by reason of the altar, 
viz: tithes of wool, lambs, colts, calves, pigs, goslings, chickens, butter, 
cheese, hemp, flax, honey, fruits, herbsj and such other small tithes, with 



MASHAM CHURCH. 331 

tithe of hay, wool, and lamb of the parish, and the mor- 
tuaries in live cattle, all which, together with the tithe 
of corn of the parish, and land wherewith the church 
was endowed, and the capital messuage of Masham, which 
should remain to the canon or prebendary and his suc- 
cessors ; but that all the rest of the altarage and profits 
of the church the vicar should have, in name of his vicar- 
age, together with the decimal silver oblations,* ob- 
ventions, and all other tithes whatsoever. And that the 
vicar should make his personal residence in the said 
vicarage, and personally serve the same, having under 
him three priests, at his own cost, and should bear all 
the burthens incumbent on the same vicarage; and 
that to the canon, or prebendary, and his successors 
should always belong the building, covering, and repairs 
of the chancel. For a full copy of this Ordinance, see 
Appendix C. 

Such were the conditions on which the vicarage was 
founded. After this time (1278) the sole cure of the 
parish was confided to the vicar and the three priests 
appointed by him, the prebendary retaining in right of 
his prebend, the patronage or right of nominating and 
presenting a vicar to the vicarage whenever it became 
vacant. 

It appears that very soon after this date the church at 
Ellington was built, for I find that on the 17th August, 
1287, John le Romayne, the then Archbishop of York, 
granted a commission directed to the Dean of Bulmer 
to act as his deputy in dedicating the church at 
Ellington. 

offerings which shall be due within the parish. It will be seen, however, 
that the tithes of hay, wool, and lamb, and mortuaries are here reserved to 
the Prebendary, who thus gets the lion's share. 

* Easter dues or offerings. I may here, however, observe that Easter 
dues are now no longer payable in Masham parish, they having been com- 
muted when the tithes of the parish were commuted. 



332 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



A List of the Vicars of Masham, compiled from Torre's 
MSS., and various other sources. 

31 Mar., 1346. Sir William Bucktrout, chaplain.* Pre- 
sented by the Prebend of Masham. 
Vacated by death. 
26 Sept., 1349. Sir Alan de Otteringham, Chaplain. 

Death. 

12 Jan., 1369. Sir John de Leghton, Chaplain. Death. 

18 May, 1393. Mr. William Clynt, STP.f Death. 

22 Mar., 1425. Sir Wm. Yoxhall, Chaplain. Death. 
25 Mar., 1425. Sir J. Balderby, Chaplain. J Exchanged. 
20 Feb., 1448. Mr. Kobert Thwaites, STP. Eesigned. 

30 April, 1457. Mr. Adam Merland. 

7 Oct., 1461. Sir John Clyfton. Resigned. 

23 Aug., 1466. Sir John de Montfort.§ Resigned. 
7 June, 1499. Mr. John Walker, Pbr. Death. 

23 Dec, 1505. Mr. John Wylde, Pbr. Resigned. 

* He is mentioned in the Nonse Rolls, an extract from which is given in 
Appendix C. It will be seen that the title of Sir is given to several of these 
Vicars. Formerly this title was given to Priests. Dr. Johnson thinks it 
was applied to such as had taken the Degree of A.B. in the Universities. 

f He is mentioned in Document No. 11, Appendix C, as having gone to 
the General Council of Constance, and as having a drunken fighting curate ; 
also in the will of John de Harwood, an advocate in the Court at York, dated 
4th August, 1460. — See vol. i. " Testamenta Eboracensia," (Surtees Society) 
p. 341. 

% John Balderby, by his will dated the 13th Nov., 1448, and proved 25th 
Nov., 1448, gave his soul to Almighty God, St. Mary, and All Saints, and 
his body to be buried in the Church of St. Andrew, of Kirkby-Malzeard. 
He is mentioned in the will of John Dene, a Canon in Ryton Cathedral, 
dated the 15th March, 1433, and proved 11th April, 1435. — See vol. ii. 
" Testamenta Eboracensia," (Surtees Society) p. 44. 

§ John de Montfort, by his will dated 24th Nov., 1498, and proved 21st 
Jan., 1499, commended his soul to Almighty God, St. Mary, and All Saints, 
and his body to be buried in the Quire of the Church of Kirkby-Malzeard. 
He was a party to an agreement, in 1484, whereby it was agreed that the 
Chapel at Middlesmoor should be consecrated, in order that the inhabitants 
might bury therein, and have baptisms and marriages solemnized there. 



Masham church. 



333 



Mr. George Dudley, D.D. Death. 

Sir Robert Snape, Pbr. Resigned. 

Mr. Leonard Horsman, M.A. Death. 

Thomas Gyll. Presented by Trinity 
College, Cambridge. Death. 

Francis Rydall, B.A. Resigned. 

Anthony Ford. 

Cornelius Welles, STB.* 

Thomas Boulton. Death. 

Francis Savage, STB. 

Gilbert Horseman. Resigned. 

Henry Fearne, STB. Resigned. 

William Loe, STB. Resigned. 

Benjamin Browne. Ejected, but re- 
stored in 1661. Death. 

Christopher Lancaster. 

Anthony Prockter. Intruded. 

John Newman, minister. Intruded. 

Joseph Welde, CI. Presented by Trin- 
ity College, Cambridge. Cession. 

Patrick Cooke, M.A. 

Peter Save, B.D. Death. 

Goodrick Ingram. Death. 

Edward Moises. Death. 

Richard Kershaw, B.D. Death. 

William Lawson. Death. 

George Waddington, MA. Resigned. 

Thomas Riddell, M.A. Death. 

Thomas Hedley, M.A. 

The following is a list of the Curates of Masham, so far 
as I have been able to ascertain by a reference to the 
Register Books of the parish and other sources of infor- 
mation, with the dates when they held the curacy. 

In 1599, Mr. William Favell, who lived at Swinton, 
was curate. 

* Cornelius Welles was, on the 31st July, 1584, presented in our Eccle- 
siastical Court here, for not keeping the vicarage house in sufficient repair. 



14 May, 


1528 


15 May, 


1534 


14 Dec, 


1534 


6 May, 


1551 


5 Oct., 


1557 


6 Mar., 


1570. 


8 Feb., 


1578. 


2 May, 


1600 


27 Dec, 


1601 


16 Nov., 


1602 


17 Oct., 


1638. 


23 Oct., 


1639 


12 July, 


1649. 


April, 


1652. 


31 Aug., 


1655. 


5 April, 


1682. 


3 Sept., 


1688. 




1703. 




1732. 




1790. 




1791. 




1833. 


9 June, 


1841. 


March, 


1856. 



334 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

In 1624, Mr. Thomas Hodgson succeeded. Mr. Favell. 
On the 23rd September, 1626, he was presented in the 
Ecclesiastical Court at Masham for reading of prayers and 
serving the cure of Masham without a license from the Or- 
dinary, but the case was dismissed. He was*also presented 
in the same court on the 12th April, 1636, for not having 
the churchyard wall in good repair, also for not having 
a poor man's box, and for not making the stalls uni- 
form. He was also presented in the same court on the 
20th March, 1638, for not having a covering of silk or 
other convenient stuff for the communion table, and for 
not having a pot of pewter, or purer metal, for the wine 
upon the communion table. He was also presented in 
the same court on the 9th October, 1638, for not making 
the stalls uniform in the body of the church and those 
places flagged which were wanting. Death, however, 
soon after this took him out of the reach of his persecu- 
tors. He was buried at Masham 9th April, 1639, 
being followed, in the same year, by 

Mr. Mark Hodgson, who was curate under Dr. 
Henry Feme, vicar. 

In 1649, Mr. Jonas Brown succeeded Mr. Mark 
Hodgson as curate. He left Masham for the curacy of 
Middlesmoor in 1650, but it would seem that he was soon 
put out by Mr. John Cooper, who was curate there in 1650. 

In 1651 Mr. Anthony Prockter was curate under 
Mr. Christopher Lancaster, who had obtruded himself 
into the living to the exclusion of the Eev. Benjamin 
Brown, the rightful vicar. 

In April, 1652, "Mr. Christopher Lancaster did 
leave the vicaridge of Masham and Kirbye, and Mr. 
Anthonye Prockter had the parish of Masham assigned 
over to him under hand and seale from Mr. Brown, vicar 
of Kirbye, with consent of Mr. Matthew Beckwith and 
those that are of the order of the fower and twentye." — 
Parish Register. 

In 1655, "Mr, Prockter did leave Masham and goe 
to the vicaridge of Well." — Ibid. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 335 

In 1655, "Mr. John Newman, minister of Masham, he 
came to live at Masham the last day of August, 1655." 
— Ibid. He seems to have maintained the position 
into which he had been intruded during the Pro- 
tectorate until 1661. 

In 1679, Mr. Mark Hodgson, curate, was buried at 
Masham 17th October, 1679. His will which is proved 
in the Peculiar Court at Masham, is dated the 13th 
October, 1679. 

In 1680, a Mr. William Wainwright seems to have 
been curate. 

In 1693, Mr. Leonard Jenkinson, curate, was buried at 
Masham the 24th July, 1693, when Mr. Patrick Cooke, 
the then vicar of Masham, " came in person to serve the 
cure at Masham.' 7 — Ibid. 

In 1696, Mr. John Horner was curate. 

In 1707, Mr. John Reid was curate. 

In 1713, Mr. Paul Gelly, curate, was buried at Mas- 
ham, on the 6 th April. 

In 1714, Mr. William Wettenhall was curate. 

In 1721, Mr. Clement was curate, and was married 
"to Mrs. Gelly, widow," (most likely the widow of his 
predecessor) on the 27th of April in this year. 

In 1736, Mr. John Dale was curate. He married 
Mrs. Mary Denison, of Watlass, on the 10th October, 
1741, and subsequently became vicar of Kirby-Hill. 
He was buried at Watlass on the 28th April, 1778. 

Mr. Robert Radcliffe was curate in 1753, and many 
succeeding years. He was the youngest son of 
Christopher and Alice RadclyfFe, of Linton-brige- 
end, in Craven, and is supposed to be descended from, 
and to have possessed some of the property of Sir George 
Radcliffe, the celebrated Secretary of the great Earl of 
Strafford. He married Mary, one of the daughters of 
Thomas and Dorothy Wrather, of Masham. He went to 
live at Well, died on the 1 st of February, and was buried 
at Masham on the 18th of February, 1785, in the seventy- 
third year of his age. 



336 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

The Eev. Joseph Burrill appears by the Register 
Book to have been curate in the year 1789. He con- 
tinued to hold the office of curate for forty^nine years. 
He then went to reside at Broughton Sulney in Notting- 
hamshire (of which parish he was rector) where he 
died on the 1st March, 1853, aged eighty-nine years. 

On the loth January, 1837, the Rev. David Bruce, 
M.A., was curate, under the Rev. George Wadding- 
ton, M.A., vicar. He left the curacy in May, 1841, 
and is now an honorary canon of Durham Cathedral, and 
perpetual curate of Ferry-hill, Durham. 

In 1845, the Rev. William Vaughan Yarworth, 
M.A., was curate under the Rev. Thomas Riddell, 
M.A., vicar. He was afterwards curate of Westbury- 
upon-Trym, Gloucestershire. 

In 1847, the Rev. John Abraham Carter M.A. (now 
John Abraham Carter Swire, incumbent of the parish of 
Healey) succeeded Mr. Yarworth as curate under the 
Rev. Thomas Riddell, vicar (whose sister he subse- 
quently married) and continued to hold the curacy un- 
til after the death of Mr. Riddell, and the induction of 
Mr. Hedley into the vicarage. 

On the 28th February, 1858, the Rev. Edward 
Nicholson Stott, M.A. (afterwards Fellow of the Uni- 
versity of Durham) became curate under the Rev. 
Thomas Hedley, M.A., vicar, and remained curate until 
the 3rd March, 1860. He is now perpetual curate of 
Middletown, Chirbury, Shropshire. 

In 1860, the Rev. George Morton Piatt, M.A., be- 
came curate under the Rev. Thomas Hedley, M.A., vicar. 
He left his curacy on the 8th July, 1862, and is now the 
perpetual curate of Cantley and Dowbiggin, Sedbergh, 
Kendal. 

In 1863, the Rev. Munby became curate 

under the Rev. Thos. Hedley, M.A., vicar. 

It will be seen by the documents set out in the Ap- 
pendix C hereto, that very soon after the Church of 



MASH AM CHURCH. 337 

Masliam had been made prebendal, as before described, 
Geoffrey Plantagenet, the then Archbishop of York, 
with the consent of the Chapter of York, freed and 
exempted it from all the customs and claims of his arch- 
deacons and officials, and confirmed it to be as free for 
ever as other the Churches of any Prebends in the Church 
of York, and that the same Prebend should be thence- 
forth as free and quit as any the freest Prebend in the 
Church of York; and also, that William de Sunelli (the 
then Archdeacon of Richmond) also, in like manner, and 
with the consent of the Chapter of York, absolved and 
exempted from all service and claim appertaining to the 
Archdeaconry of Richmond, those churches that apper- 
tained to the Prebend of Masham, which were within 
the Archdeaconry of Richmond, of the endowment of 
Roger de Mowbray, that was to say, the churches of 
Masham and Kirkby, with all their appurtenances ; and 
he confirmed, that the aforesaid churches should remain 
free and quit from him and his successors, for ever, as 
well from household visitations as from capitular charges 
and aids, and synodals, and all other claims, as any the 
freest Prebend in the Church of York. 

The effect of the Prebend of Masham and the churches 
appertaining to it, being thus exempted, was not only to 
exempt them from archdeaconal visitation, and all pecu- 
niary payments, and from being subject to be cited 
before the Archdeacon, as their Ordinary, in the Arch- 
deaconry Court at Richmond, but to confer upon it many 
very important privileges, namely, such as appertained to 
the freest Prebend in the Church of York. One consequence 
of this exemption, and the grant of these privileges, was 
the establishment, at Masham, of the Ecclesiastical Court, 
known as the "Peculiar Court of the Prebend of Mas- 
ham," which still exists, although by recent alterations 
in the law deprived of nearly the whole of its former 
jurisdiction. Whilst this court was in its full vigour, 
the Prebendary, or his official, granted probates of the 
wills of persons dying possessed of bona notabilia within 



338 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the prebendal manor, namely, the parishes of Mashani, 
and Kirkby-Malzeard ; also letters of administration to 
the effects of those dying intestate leaving bond notabilia 
within the limits of the court's jurisdiction, as before 
stated: he also summoned the clergy, resident within 
such limits, in rural synod : he also summoned the 
churchwardens to his visitations, which he held annually, 
admitted them to their office, received their present- 
ments, and took cognizance of all ecclesiastical crimes 
and misdemeanours: he proceeded in causes, for sub- 
traction of tithe and for the recovery of church-rates : 
he exercised control over the fabric and furniture of the 
churches, and the churchyard walls: he appointed a 
registrar, and an apparitor of his court: he granted 
licenses to curates, schoolmasters, and parish clerks (but 
I have not discovered any instance of his granting 
licenses to midwives,* and practitioners in physic, as is 
sometimes found to be the case in similar courts, although 
the right to do so is evidently an usurpation) : he granted 
marriage licenses (and the surrogate of this court con- 
tinues to do so) : he appointed surrogates (and the official 
still continues to do so), and did many other acts inci- 
dental to an ecclesiastical court, and to the office of a 
judge of an ecclesiastical court, such as adjudicating in 
testimentary, matrimonial, and other causes of ecclesias- 
tical cognizance, and the granting of faculties, as is 
evidenced by the Act-books of the court, which are still 
in existence, and from which I have taken copious ex- 
tracts, as will appear on referring to Appendix D hereto. 
Mr. Lawton, however, in his " Collectio rerum Eccle- 
siasticarum," says that the dean and chapter of York 
have "what is called contentious jurisdiction, or the right 

* The following question is among the articles of inquiry issued by 
Bishop Fleetwood (of St. Asaph) in the year 1710 : — " Do any in your parish 
practice physic or chyrurgery, or undertake the office' of midwife without 
license V In the oath which was administered previous to being licensed 
by the Bishop, they were made to swear that " I will not use any kind of 
sorcery or incantations in the time of travail of any woman." 



MASHAM CHURCH. 339 

of deciding causes of Ecclesiastical cognizance over all 
the places where the dignitaries and prebendaries have 
the right of holding visitations and granting probates and 
administrations ; and, therefore, when any suit arises re- 
specting any grant which would otherwise have been 
made by the prebendal, or other peculiar jurisdiction, 
the probate or administration is, in such cases, granted 
by the dean and chapter's court; this jurisdiction also 

extends over the dissolved prebend of Masham" 

And the same learned author, in his treatise of " Bona 
Notabilia," in speaking of the right of the Peculiar Court 
of Masham, to grant probates and letters of administration 
adds, "the jurisdiction is also claimed by the dean and 
chapter of York." Notwithstanding this, it is quite clear 
that the Peculiar Court of Masham has, for hundreds of 
years past, constantly exercised this contentious juris- 
diction without, as far as I can see, its power so to do, 
ever being called in question, by the dean and chapter's 
court, or by any other authority ; and I think it would not 
be difficult to establish that it had full and ample au- 
thority to exercise this contentious jurisdiction. Under 
existing circumstances, however, and having regard to 
the recent alterations made in law, such an enquiry 
would be more curious than profitable. 

Dr. Hook, in his " Church Dictionary," has correctly 
said, that "at the Reformation, by an oversight, the 
Peculiars were not restored to the jurisdiction of the 
diocesan, but remained under the king, or under such 
other person, as by custom, or purchase, obtained the 
right of superintendence;" so that when King Henry 
VIII. granted the dissolved prebend of Masham to the 
Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge, he 
granted along with it, as incident to the prebend, the 
right of holding the Peculiar Court, a right which they 
availed themselves of, and continue to do so to the pre- 
sent day. 

The oversight, alluded to by Dr. Hook, has since been 
repaired, for by an Order in Council, dated in August, 



340 MASHAM AND MASH AMSII IRE. 

1846, made in pursuance of an Act of Parliament passed 
for the purpose, the jurisdiction over these peculiar jur- 
isdictions has been restored to the Ordinary, so that the 
Archdeacon of Richmond, can and does, now, exercise 
his jurisdiction and authority over this as well as other 
Peculiars within his Archdeaconry. The consequence 
of this is, that the Official of the Peculiar Court of Mas- 
ham has ceased to hold his annual visitations, as formerly, 
and the clergy and churchwardens, resident within the 
local limits of the peculiar jurisdiction, now regularly 
attend, and answer at the Archdeacon's Visitations, and 
thus, to that extent at least, acknowledge him as their 
Ordinary. 

The Act to amend the law relating to Probates and 
Letters of Administration in England, passed in August, 
1857, has taken away all the testamentary business of 
our Peculiar Court ; and the Act to amend the law re- 
lating to Divorce and Matrimonial Causes in England, 
passed at the same time, has taken away its jurisdiction 
in matrimonial causes, if it ever had any. It still, how- 
ever continues to grant marriage licenses as heretofore, 
although the marriage licenses granted by the diocesan 
are also recognized and acted upon by the clergy with- 
in the local limits of the peculiar jurisdiction. 

Another consequence of the church of Masham being 
made prebendal, and of its exemption from archdeaconal 
visitation, as before mentioned, was to place it under the 
more efficient visitation of the Dean and Chapter of 
York. That body appears by documents still in exist- 
ence, to have exercised its visitatorial authority, not only 
very strictly, but also very fearlessly, not failing to 
report and correct whatever abuses they found in the 
church, on the several occasions of their visitation of it, 
either as to the state of the repair of the fabric, or the 
conduct of the clergy. 

In a report of one of these visitations, made about the 
year 1414, they report that Master, or Sir William Clynt, 
the then Vicar of Masham, was at the General Council 



MASHAM CHURCH. 341 

of Constance ;* that the commissary had inspected the 
choir and chancel, and that they were found sound and 
becoming complete ; that the windows of the choir were 
in process of building by the Lord Prebendary [Thomas 
Moore] at his own proper costs; that Sir John Wath, 
chaplain [curate] of Masham, both in the church and 
elsewhere, misconducted himself among the parishioners, 
and frequently haunted common taverns, and at least 
for two or three da}^s in the week was intoxicated, and 
challenged the parishioners to fight with him ;f that the 
parochial chaplains [curates] of Masham refused to per- 
form, or celebrate, the obsequies of deceased infants, and 
poor persons whomsoever, unless they were first paid by 
the friends and parents twopence for every night-watch 
[wakes for the dead], J which they had frequently ex- 

* The Council of Constance is one of the most noted in the history of the 
church, and was one of the most numerous councils ever assembled, great 
numbers having flocked to it from all parts of Christendom, and amongst 
these from this neighbourhood alone, were Sir William Fitz Hugh, the then 
Lord of Mashamshire, and the Rev. Wm. Clynt, the then vicar of Masham. 
It was assembled chiefly to put an end to the great schism which then agi- 
tated the church, during which John XXIII., Gregory XII., and Benedict 
XIII. , each claimed the rank and office of sovereign pontiff. The council 
having deposed all three of them, elected Ottone, Cardinal Colonna, as legiti- 
mate pope, by the name of Martin V. It was at this council that a canon 
or decree was passed, asserting the supremacy of a general council over the 
Pope — the doctrines of John Huss and of Wycliffe, were condemned as 
heretical — and John Huss himself, together with Jerome of Prague, were 
condemned to be burnt alive; a sentence which was carried into execution, 
as to Huss on the 6th July, 1415, and on Jerome, on the 30th May, 1416. 
This council had promised to occupy itself with a reform of church discipline, 
(which was then much called for) but it did little in that way, having been 
abruptly dissolved by the new Pope, Martin V., in April, 1418, after a sitting 
of four years. 

+ We must not too hastily conclude from the mention of this disgraceful 
conduct on the part of one of the curates of Masham, that such was a com- 
mon occurrence in the church at this period. The very circumstance of its 
being thus reported for correction shews, that it was, if true, much disap- 
proved of, and condemned, and called for enquiry. We are not to condemn 
the church, or any church, because one, or even more, of its ministers are 
guilty of conduct inconsistent with their sacred calling. 

J Brand, in his " Observations on Popular Antiquities," says, " That 



342 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIEE. 

torted; that the chaplains [curates] received at every 
solemnization of marriage, eightpence placed down upon 
the book, contrary to their ancient usages, and the parish- 
ioners pray for the imposition of silence upon the same 
chaplains. 

In another similar and subsequent report, they state 
that the chancel was defective in the ceiling ; and that 
the guardian of the jurisdiction (the official of the Pe- 
culiar Court) claimed from the executors of those 
deceased persons who had made wills, one signet ring, 
when the testator had none, contrary to the ancient 
custom. 

In another similar and subsequent report, they state 
that the ceiling over the altar was wanting, that the 
chancel was defective in one beam in the roof, and in 
glass windows, and that three roods of land appertaining 
to the church of Masham for the maintenance of one 
lamp were withheld by Richard Pygott, Serjeant-at-law.* 

watching with the corpse was an ancient custom, everywhere practised, 
numerous passages from Ecclesiastical writers might be cited to prove, could 
there be any doubt of the antiquity of the custom, which, owing its origin 
to the tenderest affections of human nature, has perhaps on that account 
been used from the infancy of time." 

The custom of holding these wakes for the dead continued to be observed 
in this parish, and especially at Ellington and Ellingstring, until within the 
recollection of the present generation, some of Whom can still remember the 
observance of it, and the evils which resulted from it. The original design 
of these wakes was, that the persons attending them should join in offering 
up prayers for the benefit of the soul of the deceased, but their end and aim 
having been forgotten, they tended to evil rather than good, and it was well 
that they were discontinued, as they have now been. 

* Richard Pygott took the degree of Serjeant-at-law in 1468, and ac- 
cording to an inquisition post mortem, taken in the 1st Rich. III., 1483, was 
found to be possessed at the time of his death, of the manor of Little Burton- 
upon-Yore, and some messuages, &c. in Masham and Fearby. It will be 
seen hereafter that in the arms of Wyvill, in Masham Church, the Pigot 
arms are quartered — Robert Wyvill, of Little-Burton, having married Joan, 
the daughter and heiress of John Pigot, who was of the Pigots, of Clother- 
holme, near Ripon. By this marriage the Low-Burton estate was brought 
to the Wyvills from the Pigots, and was not derived by them from the 
Scropes, as is generally supposed. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 34 



o 



In another similar and subsequent report, they state 
that the parishioners thought that they had great wrong 
done them, because that they had wanted or had been 
without a parish-priest for three quarters of a year. 
Also that their neighbours thought that they had wrong 
done them that they might not have the tithe-calves and 
lambs, but that other men without the parish bought 
them ; also that they thought that they had wrong done 
them, that if a poor person sold one of the worst 
calves they took the best to tithe. Also that they 
desired to know what a servant should pay to tithe for 
his hire,* for as much as ten shillings was drawn from 
poor servants that had but a small wage to find them, 
and that it was sore for them to take so much ; that the 
parsonage and the houses that belonged to it, were al- 
lowed to go down, and were unrepaired ; also that they 
complained that there was no ceiling over the high altar ; 
also that they thought that they would have the High- 
Mass done in the work-day between nine and ten of the 
clock, and of the holy day begun at ten of the clock, f 

And another of such reports contains " An Ordinance for 
celebrating divine service in the summer and winter time 
in the church of Masham," made, as is stated, in conse- 
quence of a request J from the parish, who desired that a 

* This was a tithe which was formerly paid, under the name of personal 
tithe, in pursuance of a constitution of Archbishop Winchelsea, by which 
labourers and others were to pay as tithe, a tenth part of the profit on their 
labour, after deducting all reasonable expenses. This species of tithes has 
not been enforced for a great length of time, and is now obsolete, if not 
abrogated by the statute 2 and 3 Edwd. VI., cap. 13, sec. 7. 

t This desire on the part of the people at this time to have service in the 
church on week-days, as well as on Sundays, would seem to indicate that 
they really prized the ministrations of the church, and give us a favourable 
impression as to the state of religion in the parish at this period, as contrasted 
with later times. 

% This is another indication of the state of the religious feeling in the 
parish at this period. How different to the feeling which afterwards pre- 
vailed in this parish, viz., after the Reformation, when the people were not 
only indifferent to everything which, related to the church, but could not be 
induced even by the aid of the censures of the church, and the most cruel 



314 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

fixed time should^ be appointed for celebrating divine 
service, the parish extending to five miles. It is dated 
on Saturday, the 13th August, 1519, and appoints "that 
from the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, [25th 
March] unto the Feast of the Nativity of the same [25th 
December] the first bell shall be rung for matins at six 
o'clock, and that they commence matins at seven o'clock. 
And from the Feast of the Nativity [25th December] 
unto the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary, 
[25th March] the first bell be rung at half an hour be- 
fore seven, and they ought to commence matins at half 
an hour before eight. And for celebrating vespers, it 
is appointed that the first bell be sounded at one o'clock, 
and that they commence vespers at two o'clock in winter 
time, and in summer time the last bell be rung at two 
o'clock aforesaid, and they commence vespers at three 
o'clock. 

Within seven or eight years after the date of this Or- 
dinance, King Henry VIII. having been enamoured with 
the superior charms of Anne Bullen, became anxious to 
obtain from the Poj:>e of Rome, a divorce from his lawful 
wife, Catherine of Arrogan, but not succeeding in thus 
effecting his object, he in the end, by the aid of Cromwell 
and Cranmer, shook off the authority of the Pope, and, 
wicked wretch that he was, assumed to himself, as far as 
regards this country, the office of Pope, and to be " In 
England the Supreme Head on earth of the church." 
This was called the Reformation, but reformation it cer« 
tainly was not. Had he, however, stopped there, matters 
would not have been so bad, but his exhausted exchequer 
and his avaricious disposition, drove him to plunder the 
church. Not beins; contented with dissolving the mon- 

O CD 

asteries, and other religious houses, and seizing upon, 
and appropriating to himself their extensive possessions, 
he also in like manner seized upon, and appropriated, the 
possession of this and other Prebends of the church. 

enactments, to enter it, and still less to conduct themselves with propriety 
when brought there by compulsion. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 345 

By the dissolution of this Prebend, and the seizure 
and appropriation, by King Henry VIII. of its pos- 
sessions, the dean and chapter of York, ceased to have 
any interest in it, or in the church at Masham, and thus 
their connection with the place virtually ceased. Masham 
church still, however, retained its exemption from Arch- 
deaconal Visitation, and accordingly then became subject 
only to the visitation of the official of the dissolved pre- 
bend, and to that of its diocesan, from the latter of which 
it had never been exempted. 

Whilst the church at Masham retained its connection 
with the Cathedral church of York, and remained under 
its fostering care, it received many visits from the capit- 
ular body, and great was the state and ceremony obser- 
ved on these occasions. I can even now picture to my- 
self one of the processions of these dignitaries entering 
the church, by the beautiful Norman door -way under the 
massive tower, and proceeding the whole length of the 
church up to the high altar. 

The Reformation, however, proceeded but slowly 
during the remainder of the reign of Henry VIII. It 
was enough for him that he had accomplished his 
object, in obtaining at the hands of Cranmer, what had 
been denied him by the Pope of Rome, viz : his divorce 
from his lawful wife, Queen Catherine, by which he had 
been enabled to marry Anne Bullen, that he had 
acquired for himself the supremacy of the church, and 
had been enabled to plunder it of its richest possessions. 
So time passed on, and he died as he had lived, a Roman 
Catholic in doctrine and belief, having by his will, left 
directions for the interment of his body, the celebration 
of masses and the distribution of alms for the benefit of 
his soul.* 

* For this purpose he left by his will to St. George's chapel, Windsor, 
£600 a-year for ever, for two priests to say mass at his tomb daily, for four 
obits yearly, and a sermon at every obit, with £10 to the poor, and for a 
sermon every Sunday, together with the maintenance of thirteen poor 
knights. 



346 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIKE. 

It was not so, however, during the short reign of his 
son, and successor, the boy-king, Edward VI. No 
sooner was the old king dead and buried, and the masses 
sung for the repose of his soul, than was the young king 
crowned, the ceremony being concluded " with a solemn 
high mass sung by Archbishop Cranmer." Then it was 
that the work of reformation (as it was called) began in 
earnest. Their first act was to seize upon and confiscate 
all the lands belonging to the chantries,* free chapels,f 
colleges, and the guilds or fraternities, together with the 
revenues given for obits, J anniversaries, § and lights in 
churches, which had hitherto escaped the rapacity of 
King Henry VIII. ; by which act ninety colleges, one 
hundred and ten hospitals, and two thousand seven hun- 
dred and thirty-four chantries, and free chapels, were 
destroyed. Their next step was to make great alterations 
in the offices of the church, and to prohibit the carrying 
of candles on Candlemas -day, of ashes on Ash- Wednesday, 
and palms on Palm- Sunday, which although simple mat- 
ters in themselves, was an attack upon the liberty of the 
people, and accordingly gave great umbrage to them. 
A new liturgy was framed, and enacted by Act of Par- 
liament, by which act very heavy penalties were imposed 
upon such ministers as should refuse to use it, or who 

* A Chantry was commonly a little chapel, or particular altar in a church, 
endowed with lands or revenues for the maintenance of a priest, to pray for 
the souls of the founder and his friends. For instance, the chapel at Fearhy 
was endowed with an annuity of £5 for praying at Fearby for the souls of 
James Cooper and his parents for ever, which was payable out of the revenues 
of Coverham abbey at the time of its dissolution. The North aisles in most 
of our country churches were used as chantry chapels, in which masses were 
sung at the altar of some favourite saint, for- the souls of the founder and 
others, whom he might name. They were also used as burial places for the 
founder and his family. — Gill's " Vallis Eboracensis." 

f Free chapels were places of religious worship, exempt from all ordinary 
jurisdiction, save only that the incumbents were generally instituted by the 
bishop, and inducted by the archdeacon of the place. 

J Obits are offices for the dead. 

§ Anniversaries were days observed with prayers and alms or other com- 
memoration, on the anniversaries of persons' deaths. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 347 

should preach or speak in derogation of it. Sanctuaries* 

* Anciently all churches and churchyards were places of sanctuary, al- 
though some were endowed with greater privileges than others, or were 
considered of greater sanctity than others, and their privileges better en- 
forced. If a person accused of any crime, (except treason, wherein the crown, 
and sacrilege, wherein the church, was too nearly concerned,) had fled to any 
church or churchyard, and in forty days after went in sackcloth and con- 
fessed himself guilty before the coroner, and declared all the particular 
circumstances of the offence, and took the oath in that case provided, viz : 
that he adjured the realm, and would depart from thence forthwith at the 
port that should be assigned him, and would never return without leave from 
the king ; he by this means saved his life, if he observed. the conditions of 
the oath, by going with a cross in his hand, with all convenient speed to the 
port assigned, and embarking. For if, during this forty days of privilege of 
sanctuary, or in his road to the sea side, he was apprehended and arraigned 
in any court for this felony, he might plead the privilege of sanctuary, and 
had a right to be remanded, if taken out against his will. — See 4 " Black. 
Comm.," 332. 

The following is the form of the oath required to be taken by persons 
fleeing to, and claiming sanctuary, as taken from " Rastall's Collections." — 
" This hear thou, Sir Coroner, that I, M, of H, am a robber of sheep, or of 
any other beast, or a murderer of one or of two, and a felon of our Lord the 
King of England, and because I have done many such evils or robberies in 
his land, I do abjure the land of our Lord, Edward, King of England, and I 
shall haste me towards the port of such a place as thou hast given me : and 
that I shall not go out of the highway, and if I do, I will that I be taken as 
a robber, and a felon of our lord, the King ; and that at such a place I will 
diligently seek for passage, and that I will tarry there but one flood and ebb, 
if I can have passage ; and unless I can have it in such a place, I will go 
every day into the sea, up to my knees, assaying to pass over ; and unless I 
can do this within forty days, I will put myself again into the church as a 
robber and a felon of our lord the king. So God me help and his holy judg- 
ment." 

It will be seen by the following extract from the " Records of the Sanc- 
tuaries at Durham and Beverley," published by the Surtees Society, 1837, 
that William Smorthit, one of our own parishioners, had occasion to seek the 
protection of sanctuary : 

" Sanctuar Dunelmense, No. 85. — "William Smerthwet, of Masham, in 
Richmondshire, 15th January, 1502, came to the Cathedral church of 
Durham and sought immunity for that he on an assault being made by 
certain persons, Edward Yngram, Richard and John Yngram, brothers, and 
George Horsman, upon him and his father in a certain narrow road near the 
church of the same town, on the eighth day thence past, in his own defence 
feloniously struck John Yngram with a certain le bazelard in the breast, of 



348 



MASH AM AND MASHAMSHTRE. 



were abolished, and the stone altars were ordered to be 
removed from our parish churches, and wooden tables 
substituted for them, and the marriage of priests was 
declared to be good and valid. Visitors were also sent 
out with injunctions to see that " all monuments of idol- 
atry," (as they called the ornaments of the church) were 
removed out of the walls and windows of the churches. 
And by way of climax on the 6th April, 1549, a royal 
proclamation was issued, actually forbidding the celebra- 
tion of the mass throughout England. 

These proceedings, as I have elsewhere stated, pro- 
duced very great irritation in the minds of the people of 
this district, who were warmly attached to the " old re- 
ligion," and as zealously opposed to the introduction of 
these novelties. It is not, however, my purpose here to 
speak further on that head, but to confine myself in this 
place, as far as possible, to what took place with reference 
to our own parish church itself. 

In consequence of these orders and injunctions, the 
stone-altar, the screens, and lattices, which then separated 
the choir and side-chapels from the nave, and the other 
ornaments, which then adorned our church, were re- 
moved or destroyed. Our beautiful church cross too, in 
all probability was defaced at the same time. The altar- 

which on the following day be died — for which he sought immunity. Be- 
fore these witnesses, Thomas Smerthwet, Richard Warcopp, Ranold 
Smerthwet, Robert Harvy, and others." 




FLEEING TO SANCTUARY. 



MASH AM CHURCH. 349 

rails, the tesselated pavement, and painted windows,* 
being probably then spared to be afterwards ruthlessly 
thrown down and destroyed by the Puritans. 

The early death of Edward VI., and the accession of 
Queen Mary to the throne, checked for a while these 
ravages of the church, and of its possessions. It is to be 
regretted, however, that this should have been effected 
at the cost of so much human blood, f but such a thing 
as tolerance in matters of religion was unknown in that 
age, and it was then considered a matter of conscience 
and a bounden duty, on the part of professed Christians, 
thus to put down and punish such as were deemed by 
themselves to hold and practice erroneous doctrines, and 
neither of the .two contending parties were in this re- 
spect guiltless. The Marian persecutions, however, did 
not injuriously affect the church here, or its clergy, for 
as will be disclosed in these pages, the people of Masham, 
if they did not sympathise with her in her crusade 
of persecution, were but too glad of being permitted, as 
they were by her, to adhere to the old faith, and to re- 
ject the novel doctrines and practices which had been 
introduced into the church in the previous reign. 

The check, before alluded to, however, was but of 
short duration, for, by the death of Queen Mary, after a 
brief reign of five years, and the accession of her sister, 
Queen Elizabeth, to the throne, the flood of reform, which 

* Dr. Whitaker in his " History of Richniondshire," says, in speaking of 
Masham Church, that, "In 1622 there was a shield hearing argent on a fess r 
between three plain cotises gules, as many fleurs de lys, in a northern win- 
dow ; and also, the arms of the Scropes in one of the south windows." 

f The historian Speed (who was a Protestant) says, that 277 persons suf- 
fered during the reign of Queen Mary, either by being deprived of their 
livings, the loss of their estates, imprisonments, tortures, or banishment on 
account of their religion. Lord Burghley, however, in his tract, entitled 
" The Execution of Justice in England," says that as many as 400 suffered 
in this reign. But great as this number seems, it is as nothing when com- 
pared with the number of Roman Catholics who suffered during the suc- 
ceeding reign of Queen Elizabeth, on account of their religion — allowance 
however, should be made on account of the much longer reign of the latter 
Queen. 



350 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

had been but dammed up for the while, was allowed to 
break loose again, and that too with greater force than 
before, only to bear down with an irresistable force all 
before it, and to turn the tide of persecution in the con- 
trary direction, viz : against the Roman Catholics. In this 
reign, unlike that of Queen Mary, the church at Masham 
and its clergy and people were made to suffer. In it 
cruel penal laws were enacted for the extirpation of the 
Catholic religion, which at that time was the prevailing 
religion in this parish. It was made death to ordain a 
Catholic priest within the kingdom — it was death for a 
Catholic priest to enter the kingdom — it was death to 
harbour a Catholic priest — it was death to confess to such 
a priest — it was death for a priest to celebrate mass — and 
it was death for a Catholic to attend at mass. And other 
laws* were enacted, which were hardly less cruel in their 

* By the statute 1 Eliz., cap. 1, all persons were required to resort to 
their Parish church upon every Sunday, and other days, ordained and used 
to be kept as holidays, and then and there to abide orderly and soberly, dur- 
ing the time of common prayer, preaching, and other service of God there 
to be used and ministered, on pain of punishment by the censures of the 
church, and also on pain of forfeiting twelve pence for every such offence, to 
be levied by the churchwardens to the use of the poor, of the goods, lands, 
and tenements of such offender by way of distress. 

By the 23 Eliz., cap. 1 , it was enacted that every person, above the age 
of sixteen years, who should not repair to church, should forfeit £20 a 
month, and that if he should not do so for twelve months he should be 
bound with two sureties in £200 at least, to the good behaviour, and so to 
continue bound until he did conform. 

If any person should keep a schoolmaster who should not repair to 
church, or be licensed by the Bishop, he should forfeit £10 a month, and 
such schoolmaster should be disabled to be a teacher of youth and be im- 
prisoned for a year. 

By the statute 29 Eliz., cap. 6, it was enacted that every offender who 
should not repair to church who had been once convicted, should for every 
month afterwards until he conformed, pay into the exchequer without any 
other indictment or conviction, in every Easter and Michaelmas Term, as 
much as shall then remain unpaid after the rate of £20 a-month, and if de- 
fault should be made in any part of the payment thereof, the Queen might 
by process out of the exchequer, seize all the goods and two parts of the lands 
of such offender. But a subsequent statute, the 3rd James I., cap. 4, im- 



MASHAM CHURCH. 351 

operation, their professed object being to drive the people 
into the adoption of the new doctrines, however contrary 
they might be to their own convictions. Snch was the 
vigour and stringency of these laws that the people of 
this district, as we have already seen, were driven into 
open rebellion, and were punished accordingly.* 

I have already shewn in these pages how that the re- 
ligion of the people being thus interfered with, and 
attempted to be coerced in a particular direction, they not 
only rebelled against it, but refused to listen to its teach- 
ings, or to reverence its ministers, and how they were 
persecuted for it. These proceedings, as to the great 
bulk of the people, instead of driving them into the 
church, drove them out of it, and many that remained in 
it (being such characters as I have before described) 
would, for the credit of the church, have been better out 
of it, for they but nominally conformed to its doctrines 
and precepts in order to avoid the penalties, and as such 
were worse than hypocrites. 

In the midst of these persecutions, and possibly as a 
consequence of them, puritanism reared its pestilential 
head within this district, and not only took possession of 
a small portion of the laity, but also of the vicar of Mas- 
ham, which also, in its turn, caused considerable irri- 
tation in the parish. The Rev. Gilbert Horseman having 

proved upon this last act, by enacting, that the King might refuse the £20 
a-month, and take two parts of the lands, at his option. 

And every person who should maintain, retain, relieve, keep, or harbour 
in his house, any servant, sojourner, or stranger, who should not repair to 
church for a month together, should for every month forfeit £10. 

What mortal man, I would ask, could resist laws such as these ? And 
can it be wondered at, that by force of these accursed enactments, many bad 
Roman Catholics were turned into worse Protestants ? 

* Dr. Bridge water (a Roman Catholic) in his " Concertatio Ecclesiae 
Catholicae," gives the names of about twelve hundred Roman Catholics who 
thus suffered on account of their religion during the first thirty years of the 
reign of Queen Elizabeth, namely before the year 1 588, and we know that 
great numbers suffered in the same w T ay after that period ; and, as such are 
not taken into account in that work, these pages, indeed, will add not a few 
to the names thus enumerated by him. 



352 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

succeeded to the vicarage in the year 1602, in the course 
of time, exhibited evident symptoms of a strong leaning 
to the puritanical doctrines and practices, so obnoxious 
to his parishioners, as is shewn by his not having the 
bell tolled for prayers on Wednesdays,* and Fridays, and 
not reading the litany and prayers on those days, as had 
hitherto been the practice in this parish, and in not 
wearing a hood,f and in refusing to read in the church 

* Dr. Hook, in his " Church Dictionary," says, that Wednesday, " in our 
own Church is numbered among the Rogation and Ember days, besides 
which throughout the year the Litany is appointed to be sung or said on 
Wednesday, as well as on Sunday and Friday, after morning Prayer"; 
and as to Friday he says, " It is our weekly Fast for our share in the death 
of Christ, and its gloom is only dispersed if Christmas-day happens to fall 
thereon." The Puritans, however, and the Vicar sympathizing with their 
prejudiced and erroneous views upon the subject, refused to observe these 
days as too nearly approaching the usages of the Romish Church, which of 
itself was a sufficient reason, according to their ideas, for rejecting them. 

f By the 58th Canon, "every minister saying the Public Prayers, or 
ministering the Sacraments, or other rites of the Church, if they are gra- 
duates, shall wear upon their surplices, at such times, such hoods as by the 
orders of the Universities are agreeable to their degrees." Although the 
wearing, or the not wearing, a hood, is an indifferent matter of itself, yet 
Mr. Horseman was bound by the vows he took at his ordination, to obey the 
Canons of the Church, and as such to wear a hood. The Puritans how- 
ever, had, or pretended to have, some scruples about the matter. They even 
objected to the surplice, which they called a rag of Popery — the whore of 
Babylon's smock; and the Book of Common Prayer, they called a Mass in 
English, and nicknamed it Porridge. Such was the temper of these people that 

Tinkers bawled aloud, to settle 
Church-discipline, for [instead of] patching kettle. 
No sow-gelder did blow bis horn 
To geld a cat, but cried REFORM. 
The oyster- women locked their fish up, 
And trudged away to cry No Bishop ; 
The mouse-trap men laid save-alls by, 
And 'gainst ev'l counsellors did cry ; 
Botchers left old clothes in the lurch, 
And fell to turn and patch the Church ; 
Some cried the COVENANT, instead 
Of pudding-pies and ginger-bread ; 
And some for brooms, old boots, and shoes, 
Bawled out to purge the Commons' HOUSE : 
Instead of kitchen-stuff, some cry 
A GOSPEL-PREACHING MINISTRY; 
And some for old suits, coats, or cloak, 
No Surplices nor Service-book ; 
A strange harmonious inclination 
Of all degrees to Reformation.- -Butler's Hudibras. 



Masham church. 353 

the King's Proclamation. For these offences he was 
presented in our Ecclesiastical court, when a sentence of 
suspense was pronounced against him, soon after which 
he resigned his cure, and died shortly afterwards. 

Mr. Horseman was succeeded in the vicarage by the 
Rev. Dr. Henry Ferae (afterwards Bishop of Chester), 
who was anything but favourable to the Puritans, as may 
be supposed, not only on account of his rapid preferment 
in the church, but from his being selected as a proper 
person, on account of his abilities, to state the case in 
favour of Episcopacy as opposed to the Presbytery, be- 
fore the Commissioners appointed to settle the Treaty of 
Uxbridge. He did not, however, remain long enough 
in the parish to be able to effect any great change or im- 
provement in it. 

The Puritans, however, were in their turn persecuted, 
and as Lord Macaulay says, " persecution produced its 
natural effect on them. It found them a sect ; it made 
them a faction. To their hatred of the church was now 
added hatred of the crown.* The two sentiments were 
intermingled, and each embittered the other," and the 
result was they became for a while the dominant party 
in both church and state, and as such they not only seized 
the reins of government, but subverted the church, and 
having ejected the greatest portion of the clergy from 
their livings, they seized upon the revenues, and intruded 
ministers of their own peculiar views into their parishes. 
Neal (who was himself a Puritan, and therefore may be 

* That man who can readily throw off the authority of his church, will 
not find it very difficult, in like manner, to throw off the authority of the 
state, and thus become a rebel to his sovereign, as he is to his Maker. The 
truth of this proposition was fully borne out by the subsequent history of 
these times. The same parties who subverted the church, and denied its 
authority in sacred things, murdered their Sovereign, having first denied 
his authority in temporal things. We know what followed. The people 
soon got sick of the change, and again desired a King, and a King was 
given unto them, not the best of kings certainly, but a bad king even, as 
they had learnt from past bitter experience, was better than no king at all. 

Y 



354 MASHAM AND MASIIAMSIIIRE. 

regarded as a trustworthy authority upon the subject) 
in his " History of the Puritans," in speaking of the 
sufferings of the Episcopal clergy at this time, says, 
" These being in possession of the best livings in the 
church were liable to suffer the greatest damages ; mul- 
titudes of them left their cures, and took sanctuary in the 
king's armies or garrisons, having disposed of their goods 
and chattels in the best manner they could. Others, 
who had rendered themselves obnoxious by their sermons 
or declarations for the king, were put under confinement, 
no friend being suffered to come near them; " "yet," he 
says, " it ought to be remembered that none were im- 
prisoned or turned out for their adhering to the doctrine 
or discipline of the Church of England, till after the 
imposing of the Scots' Covenant,* but for immorality, 

* " The Solemn League and Covenant," which was entered into, and 
mutually subscribed, by the Covenanting and Parliamentary leaders, as well 
as by a large number of the people of both England and Scotland, and was 
adopted by the English Parliament on the 21st of September, 1643, is here 
referred to. Hallam says, "The Covenant consisted in an oath, to be sub- 
scribed by all persons in both kingdoms, whereby they bound themselves to 
preserve the Reformed religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, wor- 
ship, discipline, and government, according to the Word of God and the 
practice of the best reformed churches; and to endeavour to bring the 
churches of God, in the three kingdoms, to the nearest conjunction and uni- 
formity in religion, confession of faith, form of church government, directory 
for worship and catechising ; to endeavour, without respect of persons, the 
extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, and whatsoever should be found contrary to 
sound doctrine and the power of godliness ; to preserve the rights and privi- 
leges of the Parliaments, and the liberties of the kingdoms; to endeavour 
the discovery of incendiaries and malignants, who hinder the reformation 
of religion, and divide the King from his people, that they may be brought 
to punishment" This Covenant, as we have already seen, was enforced by 
its adherents, whilst they were in power, by civil penalties of the severest 
description, exacted with a rigour anything but consistent with their reli- 
gious professions. Their power, however, ceased with the Restoration, 
between which time and the Revolution of 1688, instead of being 
the persecutors they became the persecuted, and hard was the measure 
which was then meted out to them by their old antagonists, now 
again in power. They were hunted, and mercilessly shot down like 
wild beasts, by Claverhouse's dragoons ; so that it is said, that, " Scarcely 



MASHAM CHUKCH. 355 

false doctrine, non-residence, or taking part with the 
King against the Parliament. However it is to be lamen- 
ted that several pious and worthy bishops, and other 
clergymen, who withdrew from the world, and were 
desirous to live peaceably without joining either side, 
suffered afterwards in common with the rest of then' 
brethren, their estates and livings being sequestered, 
their houses and goods plundered by ungovernable 
soldiers, and themselves reduced to live upon the fifths, 
or a small pension from the Parliament, either because 
they could not take the covenant or comply with the new 
directory for public worship;" and again, he says, "Be- 
sides the sequestration of benefices, the Parliament con- 
sidered the King's clergy as parties to the war, and seized 
their estates both real and personal under that character, 
towards defraying the expenses of it. Divers clergymen 
of considerable learning and blameless lives, sound pro- 
testants and good preachers, lost their estates and liveli- 
hoods." A pretty candid confession to come from a 
Puritan ! What a humiliating picture of human nature 
is this, that 

" They who should have ope'd the door 
Of charity and light, for all men's finding, 

Squabbled for words upon the altar-floor, 
And rent the Book in struggles for the Binding. 

Charles Dickens, 

In the midst of the proceedings here described, the 
vicarage of Masham was seized upon in the name of the 

is there a churchyard extant in Scotland, laying claim to antiquity, 
that does not contain one or more stones, the half-obliterated inscrip- 
tions of which attest the fact, that underneath lies some poor victim of 
persecuting zeal." 

And no more 
The assembled people dared, in face of day, 
To worship God, or even at the dead 
Of night, save when the wintry storm raved fierce, 
And thunder-peals compelled the men of blood 
To crouch within their dens ; then dauntlessly 
The scattered few would meet, in some deep dell 
By rocks o'er-canopied, to hear the voice, 
Their faithful pastor's voice." 

Graham's Sabbath. 



356 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Parliament, and the Rev. Benjamin Browne, the then 
vicar, was ejected from his living. For what cause Mr. 
Browne was so ejected, is not known, except as a " scan- 
dalous minister," a term, however, which was applied to 
all such as were ejected from their livings, although 
many of them, it is admitted, little deserved so oppro- 
brious a term being applied to them. It could not have 
been on account of immorality, or unsound doctrine, be- 
cause I find that during the time he so remained out of 
his living, he was doing occasional dutv at some of the 
neighbouring churches, which the Parliament could not 
supply with ministers, for Neale says, " The silencing of 
so many clergymen at once, made it very difficult to 
find persons qualified to fill the vacant pulpits. And 
again, he says, " The Parliament entertained and pro- 
moted several Scots divines, and yet after all, wanted a 
supply for several vacant benefices, which obliged them 
to admit of some unlearned persons and pluralists, not of 
choice, but through necessity." How r ever this may be, 
Mr . Browne was deprived and kept out of his living for 
several years. On the 12th of July, 1649, Mr. Chris- 
topher Lancaster, a " Preaching Minister," was put into 
the living by the Parliament, from which time down to 
April, 1652, he appears not only to have held the 
vicararge but to have discharged the duty in person. 
On this latter date, however, he went to Kirkby 
Malzeard, when, according to memorandum entered in 
the Parish Register, it is said that Mr. Anthonye 
Prockter had the parish of Masham assigned over to him 
under hand and seale from Mr. Brown, vicar of Kirbye, 
with consent of Mr. Matthew Beckwith,* and those that 

* Matthew Beckwith was the son of Roger Beckwith, Esq., of Aldborough 
Hall, near Masham. He was one of Cromwell's captains, and a justice of 
the peace for the North Riding, and as such was very active in putting the 
laws in force not only against the Roman Catholics, but such as presumed to 
differ from him in matters of religion. Justices of the peace, however, 
during the Commonwealth, were generally speaking not men of the first 
water. There were many Justice Shallows among them. As Lord Clarendon 



MASHAM CHURCH. 357 

are of the order of the fower and twentie."* It appears 
that he remained here until 1655, for in another memo- 
randum in the Parish Register, under date of 1655, it is 
stated that " Mr. Prockter did leave Masham and goe to 
the vicaridge of Well." This Anthony Prockter is de- 
scribed in the Parish Register of Well, as a " Noncon- 
formist," and as having intruded himself there between 
the years 1654 and 1662. 

Mr. Prockter was succeeded here by Mr. John 
Newman, who is described in the Parish Register, 
as " Minister of Masham," which says that " he 
came to live at Masham the last day of August, 
1655," and he seems to have remained here, and in the 
possession of the living during the Protectorate, until 
1661, when the Rev. Benjamin Browne, the rightful 
vicar, was restored to it, and lived to enjoy it, after all 

observes, they were raised out of a class of persons who had previously been 
of no higher grade than constables ; as an instance of this, the town of 
Chelmsford, at the beginning of the wars, is said to have been governed by 
a tinker, two cobblers, two tailors, and two pedlars. It was probably in his 
capacity as a justice of the peace, and acting on the behalf of Parliament, 
that Matthew Beckwith was a party to the transaction here alluded to, 
whereby Mr. Browne, the rightful vicar of Mashain, was put out of his 
living to make way for Mr. Anthony Prockter, the Nonconforming Minister. 
After the Restoration, Matthew Beckwith became steward to the Earl of 
Elgin (an ancestor of the present Marquis of Ailesbury) and as such built 
the east end of the Marmion Chantry, at Tanfield, where he resided, and 
put over his door in latin, 

IF RELIGION FLOURISHES I LIVE. 
M. B. 1668. 

"Whereupon Mr. Littleton, the then rector of Tanfield, who lived opposite to 
him, by way of answer, put up over his door : 

I do not heed the man the more 
That hangs religion at his door. 

He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir John Buck, Knt., of Filey, by 
whom he had issue, from whom are descended the Beckwiths, of Thurcroft, 
Yorkshire, and Trimdon, in the county of Durham. 

* This is Ibelieve the first time that the body called the " Four and Twenty" 
are named. It proves at all events that that body was not only in existence, 
but were exercising very extraordinary powers, so early as the 12 th July, 
1649. 



358 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

his trials, some twenty years afterwards. He died and 
was buried at Masham on the 11th December, 1681. 

It is hardly necessary to say that the few ornaments 
which had been left to the church on its being despoiled 
soon after the Reformation, were removed or destroyed 
during the supremacy of the Puritans, and that it is most 
probable that it was at this time that the altar-rails, tes- 
selated pavement, and the stained glass windows, which 
formerly graced the church, were broken down and 
demolished. At all events we have but too much proof 
that they left the church in a great state of neglect and 
decay, and in need of much reparation. 

I have not been able to ascertain what progress was 
made in the restoration of the ornaments and in the re- 
pairs of the church, during the remaining years of Mr. 
Browne's incumbency, but it appears by the church- 
wardens' accounts that they were being proceeded with 
in 1682, when his successor, the Rev. Joseph Welde, 
entered upon the vicarage. I suspect, however, that in 
the year 1680, considerable expense was incurred by the 
churchwardens in the restoration of the church, as I find 
that the accounts for that year were objected to by some 
of the parishioners, who cited the churchwardens to pro- 
duce their accounts in the Ecclesiastical Court at York, 
but that court was restrained from further proceeding in 
the suit by reason of the Court of King's Bench having 
granted a writ of prohibition for that purpose, as will be 
seen hereafter. 

The following items of payment, which I have ex- 
tracted from the churchwardens' accounts for the year 
1682, will afford us some information as to what was then 
doing : 

£ s. d. 

" For 4 churchwardens goinge with Mr. Weld into the parish to 

to gather a Brief. . 
" Bestowed on Mr. Weld at several times when hee preached 
« For goeing to Ripon beinge summed to ye Bishop's Court, both 

old and new churchwarden 
" For charges with ye Bishop's Parriter att Roberta Jaques 






2 


8 





2 








8 


6 





6 






MASHAM CHURCH. - 359 

" Paid at the Courte for an Order for settinge ye Altar Railes .034 
" For charges att ye same time old and new churchwardens being 

sitted to appear .. .. .. .. ..054 

" For our dismission out of Court and Charges . . ..048 

" For given for attendinge the Parson Courte 2 dayes, being sitted 

to appear ., .. .. .. ..040 

"Paid to William Dawson, of Tanfield, for Riles to Alter Table 116 
" For fetching them from Tanfeild and other charges . . ..020 

From these items we learn that the altar rails, which 
had been removed as in other churches in these troublous 
times, were now restored, in consequence of some pro- 
ceedings having been taken against the parish in the 
Ecclesiastical Court at York to compel their restoration, 
as well as to otherwise restore the church which had 
fallen to decay. 

The Brief, above alluded to, which raised £8 4s. 9d. 
was for the benefit of the French Protestants. 

In the accounts for 1683, and 1685, several sums are 
entered as having been paid for charges with two limners 
which came to see the church, 3s. 8d., and for what is 
called beautifying the church, and amongst other items, 
is " Paid Phillip Waller for drawinge ye kinge's arms* 
in oyle, which was more than our bargain, £1." The 
beautifying here alluded to is no doubt the covering of 
the walls of the church with texts of scripture, painted in 
black letters, and surrounded by ornamental scroll-work, 
to form panels. Some of this work was exposed to view 
during the late restoration of the church. In the ac- 
counts for the same year, 1685, several sums are also 
entered as charges for a " new belfrey floor," and in those 
for 1688, for the expenses of the churchwardens in going 
to York, on their being cited to appear three several 
times at the Ecclesiastical Court there, and for court 
fees paid by them on those occasions. 

* In the year 1650 (during the Commonwealth) the Parliament caused the 
king's arms to he defaced and expunged in all places of public worship and 
courts of judicature throughout the dominions, " to make the giddy people 
forget the garlick and onions of Egypt they much hankered after." After 
the Restoration the royal arms were required to be put up again in the 
churches, which will account for this item. 



360 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

In this latter year the Rev. Patrick Cooke, M.A., ap- 
pears to have succeeded to the vicarage. He did not, 
however, come and take up his residence at Masham 
until July, 1693, the duty having in the meantime been 
discharged by his curate, Mr. Leonard Jenkinson, who 
died at this time. 

It appears by the churchwardens' accounts, and the 
Minute Book of the Four and Twenty that in 1689, the 
churchwardens' seat was close to the pulpit, and that the 
pew which they now occupy was then bought by 
Abstrupus Dan by, Esq. from Mr. Christopher Marshall 
of Masham, for two pounds, and presented by him to the 
churchwardens . 

The reparation of the church appears by the following 
items in the churchwardens' accounts to have been con- 
tinued during Mr. Cook's incumbency. 

" 1695. Paid the workmen for poyntinge the spire 

Paid for a load of malt and Bruinge it and carryin it to 
church 
" 1696. Paid Joseph Pickersgill for makinge 3 new Windowes 
Paid to John Robinson for Ironworke for church- 
wardenes and Bells 
" 1699. Paid to Joseph Pickersgill, glazier, for makinge 1 new 
"Window and mendinge several other Windowes . . 
" 1702. Paid to Joseph Pickersgill for makinge 2 new Windowes 

The new windows above alluded to were, I fear, no 
improvement to the church but rather a disfigurement of it. 

The Rev. Peter Save, B.D. (Mr. Cooke's successor) 
entered upon the vicarage in the year 1703, and during 
his incumbency of twenty-nine years was the cause of 
much ill-feeling in the parish. He was a very trouble- 
some and litigious person, having instituted several suits 
for tithes against his parishioners, and especially against 
those of the parish of Kirkby Malzeard. These proceed- 
ings involved him in debt, which caused him to be in- 
carcerated for a while in York Castle, during which 
time one of the Register Books belonging to the parish 
of Kirkby Malzeard was lost. 



£ 


s. 


d. 


13 











18 


3 


1 


14 


6 


1 


15 





1 


2 


10 


1 


12 


6 



MASH AM CHURCH. 



361 



I extract the following items of payment made by the 
churchwardens during Mr. Save's incumbency, as best 
elucidating the state of matters in the parish at this 
time. 



"1719. 



"1721. 



"1723. 



1725. 



" 1727. 



£ 




d. 





1 10 6 



• • • • 


. 13 


8 


• • • • 


6 





• • • • 


1 11 


8 


• • • • 


1 1 





• • • • 


2 2 


6 


days at York 


15 






Expenses by waiting on Mr. Save to treat 

Expenses at York when obliged to appearing — Mr. Save 
for 4 men and horses with Mr. Waite and servant, 
and Mr. Waldrig and Wm. Johnson 

Expences on the Rode with same men to and from 
York 

Court Charges on yt account 

Paid to ye Procter per Bill 

Paid Mr. Wait for his journey 

Paid Mr. Waldrick p. Bill 

For Wm. Johnson self and horse 3 days at York 

To Sir Abstrupus Danby Servt. for money expenses 
about going to Kirby Knowle to enquire for a cu- 
rate, sixpence to a messenger twice to Mr. Brook- 
bank 

Paid Parson Dickison for giving Communion 

Paid M. Thirkhiil for going to Middlesmoor for a Parson 

Paid Parson Colling for giving Communion and spent 
with him 

Paid for a Hors for Parson to Nidherdall 

Paid Parson Dicison for 2 days giveing Communion and 
spent with him 

Spent when we let the churchyard wall 

Expences about Feasting the church when it was to be 
beutefyed was 

For Alle by Churchwardens and fower and twenty 
when the clock was about letting 

Do when the Clock was lett 

Spent with ye Collectors when they brought money . . 

Spent with the Parson* . . 

* The Churchwardens' accounts are full of such items as these. These 
extracts are valuable, as giving us an insight into the manners and habits of 
the people at this period. At this time no business whatever, not even 
church business, could be transacted, except at the alehouse. The clergy 
were not even exempt from this bad habit, and the churchwardens and the 
Four and Twenty were peculiarly guilty of it. Hence we find that no parish 
business was ever done without " drink " being at the end of it, and an item 
such as this appearing in the annual accounts. No one can conceive the ex- 
tent to which this bad practice was carried in the seventeenth and eighteenth 
centuries in this as well as in other parishes. 






2 


6 





12 








2 








17 


6 





1 





1 


6 


6 





2 


6 



2 3 






2 








2 


6 





2 








5 






?)(\2 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

" 1728. Paid Mr. Pointon, of Rippon, for exchange of the 

church Flaggons and Salvers . . . . . . 110 

For Scouring the Flaggons . . . . . . -— 

It will be seen by the following entry, made in the 
Minute Book of the Four and Twenty, that that body in 
the year 1730 determined upon taking proceedings 
against Mr. Save in the Ecclesiastical Court for mis- 
conduct. 

"26th August, 1730. 

" It was then order' d at Vestry that the churchwardens 
should present Mr. Save for several misdemeanors at the 
Visitation to be held at Aldbrough the Friday following 
by the Dean and Chapter of York, and that ye parish 
should reimburse them the charge they should be at and 
should indemnify the churchwardens for what they should 
do touching the primisses which said misdemeanors are 
contained in their presentment and to be presented at ye 
sd. Visitation. Signed by R. Beckwith, Jno. Bartlett, 
Chr. Gregg, Tho. Hardcastle, Thomas Ripley, John 
Ward, Jno. Lonsdale, Will. Bankes, Thos. Leathley, 
Matthew Jackson, Hen. Ascough, Nic. Watson, Chr. 
Dawson, X Hodgson his mark, Joseph Pickersgill, Tho. 
Clarkson." 

Connected with this business I find the following en- 
tries of pa3 7 ments in the churchwardens' accounts for the 
years 1730, and 1731, being evidently the expenses in- 
curred hi the prosecution of Mr. Save. 

11 1730. P'd at Berrow Bridge ye Churchwarden's expences 
Aug. ye 28. P'd ye Court Fees at the same place and time 

At ye same time p'd Mr. Brath for a Retaining Fee 
"Dec. ye 1. Paid for a citation 

„ ye 18. P'd for expence att York 
Spent as we came home 
P'd for 3 days' Hors hire to York 
"1731. Disburs'd as by note in carrying sev'l Witnesses to 

York . . . . . . . . . . 8 18 4 

Mr. Save did not long survive this prosecution, having 
died in the year following, as appears by an inscription 



£ s. 


d. 


12 





5 





1 1 





1 





17 





2 


4 


3 






MASHAM CHURCH. 383 

upon a freestone monument, erected against the south 
wall of the choir of the church at Kirkby Malzeard. 

" The Reverend Peter Save, Batchelor of Divinity and 
Vicar of ys Parish 29 years was buried under ys Tomb 
• by his own desire of laying in ye churchyard, September 
the 11th, 1732." 

In the same year in which Mr. Save died, a clock was 
put up in the Church-steeple, in pursuance of a Resolution 
previously passed by the Four and Twenty, in which they 
direct that the clock face and hand should be placed on 
the outside of the spire or steeple [and not in the tower 
as it had heretofore been, and is now again, placed] as 
not only being commodious and of great use to the in- 
habitants of the town and the people resorting to the 
market and fair, but also the country generally. The 
following items taken from the churchwardens' accounts 
for 1732, relate to such clock: 

" 1732. P'd to George Smithes for drying the Clock 

P'd to AVm. Thirkill for Alle for the churchwardens and 

George Smithes, meeting about the Diall plate, for 

setting of it up 
P'd George Smithes for repairing of the hand 
P'd to John Howgill for the Diall plate as ap'ears by Bill 
P'd for the carriage of the Diall plate betwixt York and 

Millby, and the car'age betwixt Milby and Masham 13 6 

Mr. Save was succeeded in the Vicarage by the Rev. 
Goodrick Ingram. During Mr. Ingram's incumbency, 
a gallery was erected at the south end of the nave of the 
church, as appears by the following entries in the church- 
wardens' accounts : 

£ s. d. 

"1751. For a Faculty for the Gallery .. .. . . 2 10 

To Thos. Walker and Jno. Shepherd, to complete the 

price of the Gallery . . . . . . ..300 

It appears by a minute entered in the Minute Book of 
the Four and Twenty, dated 14th March, 1753, that three 
of the floors in the steeple, namely, those two which were 
next under the bell-floor, and that which was over it, as 
also the roof over the nave, were much out of repair ; 



£ 


s. 


d. 





5 


6 





1 


6 





4 





6 


6 






361 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

and that the outside walls and the steeple were much in 
want of being pointed ; also that the walk upon the top 
of the tower outside the steeple also wanted repairing and 
leading ; all which repairs the Four and Twenty then 
ordered to be done. Leave was also given by them to 
Mr. Danby at his own cost to make a ceiling under the 
roof of the nave of the church, and to embellish it with 
cornices and other suitable ornaments, such as he should 
think proper, and to make what alterations he should 
think fit, in the windows in the body of the church. 

In another minute in the same Book, dated the 23rd 
January, 1754, it is stated that the north aisle of the 
Church was so ruinous and out of repair in the leads, 
that it required to be entirely releaded, and that the 
Four and Twenty, accordingly, ordered it to be done. 
It is also therein stated that the windows in the same 
aisle were thought too small, and insufficient for the 
lighting of the church : and that the leads and glass in 
such windows were so broken that they required to be 
made entirely anew; and that the Four and Twenty, 
accordingly, then ordered such windows to be so en- 
larged, and to have new glass put therein. They also, 
at the same time, ordered that the churchyard gates 
should be made anew, the old ones being quite decayed 
and broken. 

In another minute in the same book, dated the 6th 
August, 1755, it is stated that the south aisle of the 
church was out of repair, and that Wm. Danby, Esq., 
out of the good will he had to the parish, and in regard 
to the great expenses the inhabitants had lately been at 
in the repairs of other parts of the church, had volun- 
tarily agreed at his own charge to take down the roof, 
and to erect a good and substantial one in its stead, and 
to make a handsome ornamental ceiling to it, and to 
make new windows in such aisle, and that leave should be 
then given to Mr. Danby to carry out such repairs and 
improvements as proposed. 

Mr. Ingram was, on his death, succeeded in the vicar- 



MASHAM CHURCH. 365 

age of Masham, by the Eev. Edward Moises. During 
his incumbency the repairs and restoration of the church 
appear to have been continued. 

It appears by a minute entered in the minute book, 
before alluded to, dated the 18th June, 1760, that it had 
then been found, that the vestry and aisle adjoining to the 
chancel, were so ruinous and out of repair, and particu- 
larly the roof, that it could not be repaired without 
making it entirely anew, and being releaded, and that 
the Four and Twenty then accordingly ordered this to 
be done, and also that the windows of the vestry and 
aisle should be enlarged or altered, as the churchwardens 
should think requisite. 

In another minute in the same book, dated the 4th 
March, 1761, it was ordered by the Four and Twenty, 
that with regard to the vestry, the window of which was 
greatly out of repair, should be made anew, and that a 
plastered ceiling should be made and the walls new 
plastered ; and that the chamber floor,* which was entirely 
useless, should be taken down. 

And in another minute in the same book, dated the 
17th November, 1765, it is stated that the four bells be- 
longing to the church had been taken down on account 
of the badness of the timber-work, and other materials, 
used in the hanging of them, and that the bells them- 
selves were not -only somewhat out of repair, but were 
so ill proportioned in point of size and weight, ill-shaped, 
ill-matched, and untuneable, that it was thought advise- 
able that they should be sold, and four new good and 
tuneable bells should be purchased in their stead ; and 
also that a sum of money had been raised by a vol- 
untary subscription, sufficient for purchasing two ad- 
ditional bells ; and that the Four and Twenty had there- 
fore ordered that the churchwardens should dispose of 
the four bells, and purchase four good new tuneable 

* From this it appears that up to this time there had been a chamber 
over the vestry. 



366 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



bells in their stead, and had also given leave to add two 
other bells to them, and to have the whole six bells hung 
in the belfry. 

The following extract from the churchwardens' ac- 
counts will shew the weight and cost of these six bells. 

£ s. d. 

"Paid to Jas. Harrison, Bell Founder, for Freight of 4 old 
Bells from York to Hull 

Cwts. qrs. lbs. 
" For 6 new Bells No. 1 . . . 5 3 20 



18 6 



No. 2 . . 
No. 3 . . 
No. 4.. 
No. 5 . . 
No. 6 , 



, 7 

8 

9 

11 

13 



11 
22 
23 
10 
23 



56 25 at £6 per Cwt. 337 5 

" For Wood for Stays, 12d. ; Grease and Oyle, 12d. . . . . 2 

" For making the Bell frames and hanging the Bells . . . . 34 

"For repairing the Church-clock & puting out a Dyal face 

against the broach of the Church . . . . . . 7 



£379 5 6 



The following is a copy of the inscriptions upon the 
six bells : 

1st Bell. "Look too my brethren -whilst the Peal I lead 

2nd „ We to the trible's motion mast take heed 

3rd „ In various course we are taught to range 

4th „ In singles, doubles, and in tripples, change 

5th „ For every peal is rung by different scheme 

6th „ Of dodge, and bob, and round to the extreme. 

MEMENTO MORI. 

Each of the bells bears date 1766, and is inscribed 
with the names of " James Harrison, Bell Founder ; Ed. 
Moises, Vic. ; and Wm. Wrather, Jas. Calvert, and Thos. 
Smothwaithe, Churchwardens . "* 

It appears by an entry in the Minute Book of the 
Four and Twenty, before alluded to, dated 27th July, 

* The six bells here mentioned were again taken down and rehung in 
the Autumn of 1862, when two additional bells were added so as to com- 
plete a peal of eight bells. These bells were opened on the 5th November, 
1862. 



MASH AM CHURCH. 367 

1766, that the church clock was declared to be not only 
out of repair, but of no manner of use, and it was ordered 
that a new one should be put up in its place. 

And in the same book is also entered the following 
order of the Four and Twenty, under date of the 25th 
February, 1770, "That for the sake of acquiring more 
seats (which are much wanted) in the church, the Font* 
shall be removed from ye place where it now is, and 
placed at ye west end of ye passage or alley, which is ye 
nave of the said church, and that the large seat or pew 
in which the said font now stands shall be divided into 
lesser pews for ye sake of accommodating families that 
are in want of pews." 

Mr. Moises died at York on 6th of February, 1790, 
aged seventy-three, and was buried in the church with- 
in the communion rails. 

The successor of Mr. Moises was the Kev. Kichard 
Kershaw, B.D., a son of the vicar of Leeds, and rector of 
Eipley, who died in 1736. He did not, however, live long 

* I believe that the Font was not only removed at this time, but that a 
new one was substituted for it, which certainly was not by any means an 
improvement upon the old one. A few years ago the old Font was disco- 
vered to have been put to a most shameful use, an ex-churchwarden having 1 
converted it into an urinal for his cow-house, and so used it for many years. 
Strange as this may seem it was very like the act of a churchwarden of 
these times. Churchwardens, as their name and oath of office import, are, 
or ought to be, the guardians and protectors of the Church; yet, they are, 
generally speaking, the greatest enemies it has to encounter. As a class 
they appear to have no proper notion of the sanctity of the place they have 
under their charge, and regard the church, and all that belongs to it, as they 
would any other building, however mean and vile its purpose. I can point 
to a dung-hill in Masham, the filthy contents of which are fenced in with 
lettered gravestones — sad mementos of mortality — desecrated and sacrile- 
giously taken away by those connected with the church, from out of the 
churchyard ; and flagged causeways, constructed of similar memorials of the 
dead, taken away in like manner from holy, consecrated ground, in utter 
disregard to all decency and propriety. A proper reverence for God's house 
is wholly unknown to them, and instead of shewing their love for their 
Maker by rendering his holy temple worthy of his name, they are ever con- 
triving how little they can spend upon it, and thereby reduce the amount of 
the church-rate. This was not so in times gone past. 



368 MASH AM AND MASHAMSH1RE. 

enough for any improvement being effected in the church 
during his incumbency. He died on the 27th January, 
1791, and was buried in the church, where a tablet is 
erected to his memory bearing the following inscription : 

" Near this place are interred the mortal remains of 
Richard Kershaw, M.A., sometime Fellow of Trinity 
College, in the University of Cambridge, and vicar of this 
parish; with ready wit and a refined imagination, he 
united in a mind of more than ordinary compass a correct 
and vigorous judgment; giving to the support of that 
true religion of which he was a firm and sincere professor, 
the authority of acknowledged talents, and appointed to 
his spiritual charge he was preparing to fulfil his duties 
as a pious pastor among his parishioners, when in the 
faith and hope of his high calling he was removed to the 
life eternal in the year of our salvation 1791, in the forty- 
eighth 3'ear of his age." 

Mr. Kershaw was succeeded in the vicarage by the 
Rev. William Lawson, In the early part of Mr. Law- 
son's incumbency, whilst he was travelling in France, 
during the time of the war between England and that 
country, he was taken prisoner and detained there for a 
long time. On being liberated at the conclusion of the 
peace, he retired to Kirkby Malzeard, and there built him- 
self the present parsonage-house, and, having surrounded 
it with high walls, he shut himself up in it, and was 
rarely or ever seen afterwards, or at all events by his 
parishioners at Masham. The consequence was, that 
during his long incumbency of forty-two years every- 
thing connected with the parish and his cure was neg- 
lected, the sole charge of this wide and extensive parish 
being committed to his curate, the late Rev. Joseph 
Burrill. Considering that Mr. Burrill during the time 
he so held the curacy was carrying on a large and flourish- 
ing boarding-school — was the Head Master of the Gram- 
mar School — and was at the same time personally man- 
aging a farm which he rented, it will be readily seen 
that he could not pay that attention to the spiritual con- 



MASHAM CHURCH. 369 

cerns of the Parish, and of its inhabitants, which its 
importance demanded, or which ought to have been be- 
stowed upon it. Yery few improvements were there- 
fore effected in the church during this incumbency. 

The following extracts however from the churchwar- 
dens' accounts during this time, may be useful, and may 
interest the reader in the way of furnishing him with 
dates. 

£ s. a. 

" 1797. Paid Henry Cook for new Gates* to ye Churchyard as bill 19 6 2 
" 1801. Dan'll Ingleby's Bill, new Hearse f. . . . . . 14 14 

" 1807. Deer. 23rd, Paid for mending Bazoon J * . ..066 

" 1808. July 2nd, Paid for Reeds . . . . . . ..034 

" 1812—13. Paid James Metcalfe for the King's Arms || . . 15 15 

* The gates here alluded to are still in use. Henry Cook, the maker of 
them, was a smith in Masham. 

t The new hearse continued in use until its place was supplied by ano- 
ther, and more elegant one, which is the one now in use, and was built by 
Mr. Thomas Pullen, coachbuilder, Masham. Daniel Ingleby, the maker of 
the old hearse, was a noted wheelwright at Ilton. 

| The items for mending the bazoon, and for the bazoon reeds, remind 
one of the time when screeching fiddles, squeaking clarionets, dyspeptic 
flutes, and grunting bazoons, were heard in our Parish Churches — to the great 
delight, no doubt, of the country swains who performed on them, but to the 
entire subversion of all proper notions as to the sacred character of church- 
music. More correct ideas on this subject have, however, prevailed of late 
years, but there is still much room for improvement. Many of the tunes 
which are even now sung in the church, might, with great advantage, be 
handed over to the " Ranters." 

|| The King's Arms here mentioned, are still in the church. They were 
painted by Richard Metcalfe (a son of the James Metcalfe mentioned in this 
entry) who was, in his day, an artist of considerable merit, and whose works 
will, at some distant day, attract that attention which they merit. He was 
a native of Masham, and when a youth was put apprentice to Mr. Buck- 
trout of Bedale, to learn the business of a house and sign painter. During 
his apprenticeship he evinced talents and aspirations of a higher order than 
could be satisfied by following the vocation for which he was originally in- 
tended. At the expiration of the term of his apprenticeship, he returned 
to Masham, and having attracted the attention of Julius Ctesar Ibbotson, 
then a resident here, that worthy gentleman (knowing by his own past ex- 
perience the value of such assistance) kindly gave him the necessary instruc- 
tions and directions for pursuing his studies as an artist, and otherwise 
rendered him considerable assistance in the prosecution of them. After 

Z 



£. 


s. 


d. 





9 





10 








3 


16 





6 


6 





5 


4 


9 


23 


11 


1 


5 








10 


12 


7 



370 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



" 1814 — 15. Expended with Guy in agreeing to his teaching Sin'g 
" 1815. Jan. 25, New Barrel to ye Organ, paid Ward 

„ 31, Repairing two old Barrels.. 
" 1821—22. Paid the Kettlewell singers 

" 1827 — 28. Paid the person who repair'd the Spire and his ex- 
penses . . 
" 1828. June 3, Paid Ballance on acc't of the Steeple. . 
" 1829. Jan. 9, Paid Mr. Trumper for his valuation of Parish* . . 
" 1833. Jan. 23, Paid Mr. Tate for Faculty f 

The reparation of the church spire above-mentioned, 
was occasioned by the upper portion of it having been 
blown down in a high gale of wind. The person alluded 
to as having repaired it was Mr. Phillip Wooton, of Not- 
tingham. The way in which that daring gentleman 
effected it, without scaffolding, is worthy of being re- 
corded. He first took a long ladder upon the top of the 
battlement, and having reared it up against the steeple, 
he fixed the lower end of it to the battlement, and the 
upper end of it to the steeple with iron cramps, which he 
drove into the wall; he then took another ladder up the 
first ladder, and fastened the lower end of it to the first 
ladder, about midway of it, and then cramped the upper 
end of it to the side of the steeple with iron cramps in 
the same way he did the first ladder. He then took lad- 
der after ladder, and fixed them successively in the same 
way as he did the second ladder, as before described, 
namely by fastening the bottom end of each succeeding 

prosecuting his studies for some time under Mr. Ibbotson, he removed to 
Ripon, and there for many years received the patronage and support of the 
late Mrs. Lawrence of Studley Park, for whom he executed several works. 
He removed from Ripon to Catterick, and from thence to Masham, where 
he ended his days, on the 27th of November, 1842, in the 58th year of his 
age. 

* As to the effect of this valuation see ante p. 25. 

t This Faculty was obtained for the erection of the three galleries now 
standing in the west-end of the church. This entry is (like a former one 
for a similar Faculty) inconsistent with the claim set up by the Four and 
Twenty, that they have the same powers in and over the church at Masham, 
as the Bishop or Ordinary has in other parishes. Mr. Tate was the Regis^ 
trar of the Peculiar Court of Masham. 



MASHAM CHURCH. S71 

ladder about midway up the ladder which had been last 
fixed, and cramping the upper end of it to the side of the 
steeple, until he at last reached the top of the steeple, 
which he accomplished in about three hours. By the aid 
of these ladders alone, and without any scaffolding what- 
ever, he not only took down the damaged part of the 
steeple, but built it up again, and fixed the vane upon it 
in a very substantial and workmanlike manner. The 
work was commenced upon the 28th June, 1827, and 
completed on the 9th July, 1827. 

The Faculty above alluded to, which was granted by 
the Peculiar Court of Masham, was to authorise the 
pulling down of the old gallery which had been erected 
in 1751, as before mentioned, at the south end of the 
nave of the church, and the building of the present gal- 
lery (which is much larger than the old one) and the 
side galleries as they now are. Some of the seats in the 
centre gallery were then sold, for the object stated in the 
following minute, which I here give at full length from 
the Minute Book of the Four and Twenty. 

" At a vestry of the Four and Twenty of the parish of 
Masham, in the vestry of the Parish Church, held the 
first day of December, 1832. 

" Whereas the gallery at the west end of the middle 
aisle of the church has lately been rebuilt and enlarged, 
and also new galleries erected at the west ends of the 
south and north aisles of the church. It was intended 
by the erection thereof that the seats or pews of the said 
galleries should be enjoyed or occupied by such of the 
parishioners for the purpose of hearing divine service as 
the said Four and Twenty should from time to time 
direct and appoint, they by immemorial usage* having 

* Generally speaking the disposal and distribution of seats rests with the 
churchwardens, but only as the officers, and subject to the control and cor- 
rection of the Ordinary. — Fuller v. Lane, 2 Add. It. 425 ; Kenrick v. Taylor, 
1 Wils., 326, per Lord Coke ; Browne and Goldsb. Ii. 45. " In some places 
usage has vested the power of disposing of seats in churchwardens and 
vestry ; and in others, in a particular number of the parishioners, exclusive 



372 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

always exercised a right to the erecting of the pews or 

of the Ordinary." — Prideaux's " Directions to Churchwardens," by Tyrwhitt, 
p. 10*7 (10th Edit.) It is also said by Dr. Burn in his " Ecclesiastical Law," 
vol. i., p. 255, (1st Edit.) " That a custom time out of mind of disposing of 
seats by the churchwardens and major part of the parish, or by twelve or 
any particular number of the parishioners, is a good custom, and if the Or- 
dinary interpose, a prohibition will be granted," citing Gibs., 198. 

The authorities above cited go far to show that an immemorial custom 
may exist in this Parish, which would authorise the Four and Twenty to 
dispose of the seats in the church, as stated in the text. The question, how- 
ever, is, whether it can be established by legal evidence that such a custom 
has existed from the time of legal memory, and if so, that it has been con- 
tinuously acted upon by the Four and Twenty, down to the present time. 
There can be little doubt but that the Four and Twenty have for a consi- 
derable period exercised this authority of disposing of the seats in the 
church, but I question whether they have done so continuously down to the 
present time. If 1 mistake not, after the last occasion when the church was 
repewed, the Four and Twenty not only took no part in the disposing of 
the seats, but were not even consulted upon the subject by the vicar, who 
disposed of them as he thought proper. It may, therefore, be well doubted 
whether the Four and Twenty have not lost their right to dispose of the 
seats in the church, even supposing that they ever possessed any such right. 
If the Four and Twenty really possessed the power of seating the parishion- 
ers in the church, as claimed by them, it is a great pity that they, in the in- 
stance here alluded to, surrendered such power to the vicar, or rather allowed 
him to usurp it, for it is notorious that the way in which the seats were dis- 
posed of by him gave great umbrage and dissatisfaction to several of the 
parishioners, and not without cause, for if the grossest partiality and in- 
justice was not used in the redistribution of the seats on that occasion, it had 
all the appearance of it, and as such tended to increase the unpopularity of 
the vicar. 

The following extract from the Minute Book of the Four and Twenty 
will further shew that that body has, from an early period not only claimed, 
but exercised, the right of disposing of the seats in the church. 

" Novemb'r the 30th, 1689. Mem'm, That the Worshipfull Abstrupus 
Danby, Esq'r, Lord of the Manor of Massam and Massamshire, did give 
fourty shillings to Christopher Marshall, for his pew, erected in the lower 
end of Massam Church aboves'd, and did also give and bestow the abovesaid 
Pew or Seat to the then Churchwardens of Massam Parish and to their 
successors, and that the above Mr. Christopher Marshall, by the consent of 
the aboves'd Worshipfull Abstrupus Danby and the rest of the Four and 
twenty, did amend or repair a Seat or Pew by the Pulpitt formerly the old 
Churchwardens beninge granted to hime and his posterity." 

The following Document (which is now in the possession of Mr. Thomas 



MASHAM CHURCH. 373 

seats in the church, and appropriating the said seats to 
particular persons or families in like manner as the Or- 
dinary in other parishes has a right to do. At this 
meeting it was resolved to relieve the parishioners in 
part from the heavy expense of enlarging the said middle 
gallery and erecting the two new galleries ; that a part of 
the gallery in the middle aisle be appropriated to such 
person or persons as may be disposed to purchase the 
same for the use of themselves and families, for the pur- 
pose of hearing divine service. Therefore it is ordered 
that the seats or pews in the middle gallery on the south 
side of the organ and two upper pews on the north side 
of the organ be offered to be disposed of # for the benefit 
of the purchasers or their families, or such other persons, 
being parishioners, as the purchasers may assign them 
for their sittings to hear divine service on the following 
terms, viz: 

Stott of Masham) also affords similar proof of the fact : — 

"5th December, 1712. Wee of the Four and twenty for the Parish of 
Massham, in the County of Yorke, whose names are hereunto subscribed, 
doe hereby consent and agree that Mr. Thomas Hardcastle of Massham 
aforesaid, shall have part of two long seats in the Church of Massham 
aforesaid, adjoyneing to a Pew belonging to S'r Roger Beckwith, Barr't, 
wherein his servants sitts on the West side thereof (viz), that part thereof 
adjoyneing to the middle Isle, to erect a pew for the use of himselfe and 
family, at his own p'per costs and charges." Signed, " Ab. Danby, Ro. 
Beckwith, Jno. Bartlett, Jno. Beckwith, Tho. Johnson, Thomas Ripley, 
Chris. Gregg, Sam'l Beckwith, John Mann, John Ward, Robert Plewes, 
James Williamson, Geo. Thwaites T his marke, John Burrill I his marke, 
Ralph Ballan R B his marke, Tho. Atkinson X his mark, Tho. Jackson 
X his marke." Endorsed, " Lycence from the Fower and Twenty of the 
Parish of Massham, to erect a Pew in Massham Church." 

Other instances in which the Four and Twenty took upon themselves to dis- 
pose of the seats in the church, will be found mentioned throughout these 
pages. 

* At the risk of invalidating my own title to one of these Pews, which 
my late father bought and paid for, I have no hesitation in saying that the 
Four and Twenty had no lawful authority to sell these Pews as here indi- 
cated. See Walter v. Gunner and Drury, 1 Consist. Rep., 314 — 1798. I 
hope to see the day when the gallery itself, which is a great eyesore to the 
church, will be entirely swept away. 



374 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIKE. 

No. 1. — £20 accepted and purchased by Mr. Geo. 
Imeson, Swinton. 

No. 2. — £20 purchased by the Rev. John Gipps 
Bolland. 

No. 3. — £16 purchased by Mr. Henry Metcalf, 
Masham. 

No. 4. — £16 purchased by Mr. William Williamson, 
Masham. 

No. 5. — £14 purchased by Mr. John Fisher, Masham. 

No. 6. — £14 purchased by Mr. John Lightfoot, Mas- 
ham. 

Nos. 7 and 8, upper seats, north side of organ. — £20 
purchased by Mr. Edmund Barker, Masham. 

" We, of the Four and Twenty, here assembled, do ac- 
knowledge to have received the above sums and the same 
have been appropriated towards the church rate." Signed 
by twenty -one members of the Four and Twenty. 

In the same year (the 3rd May, 1832) an organ was 
erected in the centre gallery, at the expense of the late 
William Danby, Esq., who also by a deed dated the 1st 
March, 1833, granted an annual rent-charge of £30, 
issuing out of the farm at Warthermarsk, then in the 
occupation of Mr. Thomas Theakston, but now of Mr. Wil- 
liam Hodgson, as a perpetual endowment for the organist. 

Mr. Lawson died in the year 1833, when he was suc- 
ceeded in the vicarage by the Rev. George Waddington, 
M.A., now Dean of Durham. 

The Rev. George Waddington, M. A., was educated at 
the Charterhouse School, and was afterwards Fellow of 
Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. 
in 1815, having in 1811 gained Sir William Browne's 

" CD . CD 

medal. In 1813 he obtained the University Scholarship, 
besides being Chancellor's Medallist for English verse. 
And in 1815 he was Senior Chancellor's Medallist. He 
was one of the Prebendaries of Chichester Cathedral. 

Mr. Waddington, following immediately after the long 
incumbency of such a vicar as Mr. Lawson, necessarily 
found the parish and its several charities and institutions 



MASHAM CHURCH. 375 

in a very unsatisfactory state. Nothing daunted, how- 
ever, he immediately set himself to work in investigating 
and correcting what he found amiss. To him we are 
much indebted for correcting many abuses which had 
crept into the management and administration of the 
several charitable bequests which had been from time to 
time made to the Parish, and more especially in effecting 
a more equitable division of the revenues with which 
the Grammar School and the Free School had been en- 
dowed. The Free School, which under former manage- 
ment, or rather mismanagement, had become nearly de- 
serted by scholars and entirely useless, he completely 
reorganized and put into an efficient footing ; and so well 
did he succeed in it that it very soon became so attractive 
and so well attended that the school room in a very short 
time had to be considerably enlarged, so as to accommodate 
the number of scholars who now eagerly nocked to it. 
He also established a Sunday School in connection with 
the church, all the previous Sunday Schools in the town 
being connected with and taught by the Dissenters. In 
this eifort he was also very successful, the school being 
very soon attended by a much larger number of scholars 
than have attended it in more recent times, and was 
much better conducted, it being then plentifully sup- 
plied by very efficient teachers. The present Subscrip- 
tion Library and the Parochial Library, also owe their 
existence to the originating mind of Mr. Wadding ton, 
and to his bountiful purse, he having contributed largely 
to their funds, not only at their first formation but 
during all the time he remained at Masham. 

But perhaps the greatest boon which Mr. Waddington 
conferred upon the town, was his procuring the vicarage- 
house to be built here, by which means he secured to it, 
and the parish at large, the advantage of having there- 
after a resident vicar, an advantage which can only be 
fully appreciated by those who have known and ex- 
perienced the want of one. In a place like Masham the 
influence of a resident clergyman is very great, (especially 



376 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

when he happens to be a gentlemen who commands the 
respect and esteem of his parishioners, ) and cannot fail at 
all times to produce a beneficial effect on the morals and 
manners of the people. The building of the vicarage - 
house, however, proved a very costly affair to Mr. Wad- 
dington, having, as I well know, cost him a considerable 
sum of money over and above the amount of the grants 
which he was able to obtain towards its erection, and 
which had to be taken from his own private fortune. 

Yery early in his incumbency he procured the tithes 
of the parish to be commuted, and accordingly embraced 
that opportunity of putting an end to the collection, in 
future, of Easter dues, and other small exactions on the 
part of the church, which, although but of trifling amount, 
were the cause of much irritation and annoyance to the 
parties called upon to pay them. 

It was during Mr. Waddington's incumbency, viz : on the 
17th September, 1837, that the church clock which is 
now in the tower was presented to the parish by Mrs. 
Danby, in the place of the old clock, which had got out 
of repair, and had become useless. 

In the year 1840, Mr. Waddington was appointed to 
the Deanery of Durham, when he resigned his vicarage, 
to the very great regret of his parishioners, by whom he 
was very much esteemed. He j)reached hi s valedictory 
sermon (which was published) on the 27th December, 
1840, when he left Masham. 

Mr. Waddington was succeeded in the vicarage by 
the late Rev. Thos. Rid dell, M.A. Much as had been 
effected towards the improvement of the condition of the 
parish during Mr. Waddington's incumbency, there still 
remained much to be done towards it when Mr. Riddell 
came to the living. Owing to the previous lax manage- 
ment the people had become somewhat alienated from 
the church, and preferred the ministrations of the Dis- 
senters to those of the church. Mr. Riddell, by his kind 
and affable disposition, was well adapted to gain the 
goodwill and esteem of the people, and the exemplary 



MASHAM CHURCH. 377 

and religious life which he led, (coupled with the precepts 
which he urged with great earnestness and ability, both 
fronvthe pulpit and in private) had the effect of convincing 
many that the services of the church were not that 
barren and lifelesss form, as many had hitherto been led 
to believe, but, on the contrary, tended to, and produced 
in many of its members, true vital religion. The church 
accordingly again came into favour, its congregations 
visibly increased, and the number of its communicants 
gradually became larger and larger ; and this too was not 
without its effect upon the manners and habits of the 
people generally. The Lord's day* which had been 
openly and habitually profaned by gaming, field sports, 
and intemperance, during the whole time of Mr. Law- 
son's long incumbency, had by this time begun to be 
properly observed, and the habits of excessive drunken- 
ness which had characterised the people in that period 
now gave way to habits of comparative temperance, and 
more orderly conduct, in the great majority of the 
people. 

No improvements were made in the fabric of the church 
during Mr. Riddell's incumbency worthy of being here 
noted, except the restoration of the steeple, of which I now 
proceed to speak. 

On the 27th July, 1855, Masham, and neighbourhood, 

* I dare say that there are some old inhabitants still living who can re- 
collect the time when notices of auction sales and other matters of public 
interest, were openly proclaimed by the Town's bellman at the church gates, 
on Sundays, as the people were leaving the church. At that time this was 
the ordinary mode of giving publicity to that which was considered neces- 
sary to be made known in the Parish. Many notices relating to parish 
business, were, indeed, then usually read by the clergymen from the reading 
desk. Mr. Raine in his " Depositions from York Castle," says " In these 
days [the seventeenth century] in the North of England, it was customary 
to proclaim from the pulpit any stolen goods, and other matters of interest 
to the congregation, were also announced. One rich Rector in the County 
of Durham, who sat in Bernard Gilpin's chair within the present century, 
used regularly to announce from the rostrum the sale of the hay off his 
glebe!" 



378 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

was visited by a terriffic thunder-storm, in which the 
steeple was struck by lightning, and the upper portion of 
it was so much damaged as to require its being taken 
down and rebuilt. A difficulty, however, here presented 
itself in the Four and Twenty (as the guardians of the 
parish purse) having refused either to repair it them- 
selves or to contribute towards the expense of its restor- 
ation. Mr. Riddell, however, although much discouraged 
by such refusal, immediately set on foot a voluntary sub- 
scription amongst his parishioners, for the restoration of 
the steeple, and very soon raised by it nearly £400, 
being more than sufficient to accomplish that object. He 
did not, however, live long enough to see its completion, 
having died whilst the work was in progress. 

I have already, elsewhere in these pages, alluded to 
the circumstance of Mr. Riddell' s death — the great gloom 
which it cast upon the parish — and the erection of the 
u Riddell Memorial Mechanics' Institute " by his parish- 
ioners and friends, as a tribute of respect to his memory, 
and therefore need not further allude to the subject 
here. 

Mr. Riddell died on the 30th September, 1855, and in 
the March following he was succeeded in the vicarage by 
the Rev. Thomas Hedley, M. A. (the present vicar) who 
was then a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, where 
he graduated B.A. in 1844, and M.A. in 1847. 

Since Mr. Hedley entered upon the incumbency, con- 
considerable improvements have been effected in the fabric 
of the church, by a very extensive, although not by any 
means a complete restoration of it. This has been accom- 
plished mainly through the liberality of the late Admiral 
Octavius Vernon Harcourt. In the course of these restor- 
ations all the old square-headed windows throughout the 
church (except the two windows on the west end of it) 
being of a debased style of architecture, were taken out, 
and new ones, with gothic heads, and of a more correct style 
of architecture, substituted in their places. The flat roof, 
with the plastered ceiling and ornamental plaster cornices 



MASHAM CHURCH. 379 

which formerly covered the chancel, were removed, and 
a high-pitched roof, covered with lead, put in its stead, 
as being more suitable to the character and sanctity of 
the building. Much of the stonework was repaired and 
restored, the whitewash was removed, the square boxes 
of pews which had previously disfigured the church gave 
place to oaken stalls of a more uniform and suitable de- 
scription ; the unsightly altar-rails were replaced by rails 
more in accordance with the place. Encaustic tiles took 
the place of the common rough flagging within the com- 
munion-rails ; the substitution of an elaborately carved 
pulpit and reading-desk for the unsightly tubs which had 
previously disfigured the church ; and suitable cathedral 
glass being substituted in the windows for the square 
panes of common lead and glass, of which they had been 
previously composed. 

The church also at this time received an addition of 
two stained glass windows, both of them being superior 
works of art, and a great ornament to the church, viz : 
the East window, and the window over the Priest's door 
in the Chancel. The former, which was the gift of the late 
Admiral Harcourt, and the work of Mr. Barnett, of Leith, 
near Edinborough, represents different events in our 
Saviour's life, together with the descent of the Holy 
Ghost upon his disciples. And the latter, which is the 
work of Mr. Barnett, of Newcastle, was erected to the mem- 
ory of the late wife of the author of this work, who died in 
child-bed. The centre compartment represents Rachel on 
her death-bed, and in the act of giving the name of Benoni 
to her new-born babe; beneath which are inscribed in 
church text, or Lombardic characters, the words " IHacM 

tvtlltb jrb nam* §emmi, fljai m, % Bon 0f mg xoxxaba" 
The second compartment represents Jacob, her husband, 
weeping over her grave, and beneath are inscribed in 
similar characters the words, " glac^I bub Ettfcr Jfatcrh 
ui K jrtlfe u$an jxer grafae," And the third compart- 
ment represents Peter raising Dorcas, and beneath are 



380 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

inscribed in similar characters the words " gj(l the 
ixriiwttrs ntaab hjr fotcpmg mtir sjwtoittg % toutn anir 
garments Ixrljtclj *§0OT8 maW And under these is a 
band bearing the following inscription, " Jfn |$Um0rg 0f 

Charlotte gtariait Jfisfrer, lxrjr0 bietr 27tfr ^iobtmhx, 
1858." 

And in July, 1862, the church received a further ad- 
dition in the gift by the Rev. George Morton Piatt, M. A. 
(the then curate of Masham) of a new Font of Caen 
stone, having representations of the symbols of the Four 
Evangelists richly carved on four of the eight panels* of 
which it consists, the four intermediate panels bearing 
fleurs-de-lis, and other church emblems. 

Having now brought down the history of the church 
to the present time, it only remains for me to conclude 
this chapter by giving a description of the fabric of the 
church. In doing this I cannot do better than here 
transcribe what the learned Dr. Whitaker has said on the 
subject in his " History of Richmondshire." 

" At the East end is the church dignified alone among 
all the churches of Richmondshire by the ornament of a 
spire, which the Norman tower was well calculated to 
sustain. This, as it is the oldest is also the most massy 
part of the church, and has the general feature of these 
structures soon after the conquest, that the wall is re- 
peatedly contracted. The upper story, on which the 
spire is immediately raised, appears to be contemporary 

* It will be observed that this new Font, like its predecessors, is octago- 
nal in shape. It seems that there is a reason for making Fonts in that 
shape. The octagon had a mystical meaning in the ancient Christian Church, 
and, on that account, Fonts were constructed in that form. In Gruter's In- 
scriptions, page 1166, are some verses of St. Ambrose upon the Font of St. 
Thecla, 

" Octagonns fons est munere dignus eo. 
Hoc numero decuit sacri baptismatis aulam 
Surgere, quo populo vera salus rediit." 

And it was a common observation, that as six was the number of antichrist, 
so eight, of true Christianity. Hence we find an octagon represented on 
some ancient coins of Christian Princes. — See Camden, C, xci. 




WEST DOORWAY OF THE NORMAN TOWER, 
MASHAM CHURCH. 



P. 380. 



t 



MASHAM CHURCH. 381 

with its superstructure, or about the reign of Edward 
III. Near the south porch is the frustrum of a Saxon 
cross, distinguished by scrolls and other characteristic 
marks of that period. The church itself, with the choir 
and side aisles, may be termed middle gothic of very 
handsome masonry without, and kept with extreme 
neatness within. The north and south choirs have evi- 
dently belonged, in right of different manors within their 
barony, to the Scropes of Masham, but on the partition 
of their great estates, when Little Burton* fell to the 
share of the Wyvills, the north choir accompanied it, 
while that on the south seems to have gone along with 
the barony of Masham. At the head of the north aisle 
is a cumbrous and costly monumentf to the memory of 
of Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, the first Baronet of his family 
and the last inhabitant of Little Burton, in the general 
style of James I., with two leaning figures, in which the 
meanness of the material is hid by a thick coat of paint 
and gilding. The epitaphj is interesting from the genea- 
logical information conveyed by it." 

* It will be seen here that Dr. Whitaker has fallen into the common 
error of supposing- that Little Burton (or Low Burton as it is now called) 
formed part of the possessions of the Scropes, and that it came through 
them to the Wyvill family, which is a mistake. Little Burton never did 
belong to the Scropes, but was brought into the Wyvill family by Joan, the 
daughter and heiress of John Pigot, who married Robert Wyvill, an ancestor 
of the Wyvills of Constable Burton, who it will be seen quarter the arms of 
the Pigots of Clotherholme. 

f The famous antiquary, John Leland, who visited here about the year 
1538, merely says that there is at Masham "A faire Church." Dods worth 
the antiquary, who visited Masham church on the 19th of October, 1622, 
says, in speaking of this monument, " In the north choir a fair new monu- 
ment with the portraitures of a man and his wife — beneath six sons armed, 
and two daughters kneeling." In the margin of this note he has put, 
" Builded by himself in his lifetime," alluding to the unusual circumstance 
of its having been erected by Sir Marmaduke Wyvill to himself in his 
life-time, namely in 1613, he not having died until the 9th January, 1617. 
See Dodsworth's MSS., preserved in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, No. 
5101, vol. 160, fo. 268. 

% The following is a translation of the Latin Inscription upon the monu- 
ment : 




fbc SagbKlI Monument in glasbam ifbuvtb. 



382 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Hie jacet Marmaducus "Wyvell, miles primus sui nom- 
inis Boronettus filius et haeres X'poferi per Margareta 
filiam Joh'is Scrope : X'poferus fuit filius et haeres Mar- 
maduci et Agnetis unius quinq soror, et cohaerdum 
Joh'is filu et haeredis Radulphi Fitzrandall militis et 
Elizabethae unius trium sororum et co-harerdium Ra- 
dolphi D'ni Scrope de Masham. Marmaducus fuit filius 
et haeres Roberti filu et haeredis Roberti et Johannae 
filae et haerdis Joh'is Pigot. A. D'ni 1613, quo extruc- 
tum fuit hoc monumentum, Marmaducis per Magdalenam 
filia X'poferi Danby militis huit viventes sex filios et 
duas filias. Evis tunc haeres apparens fuit X'poferus 
filus X'poferi Marmaducus filius Marmaduci Barbara, 
unigenita sua vixit ad aetatem annor' 76 et mortuis est 
Ao. mediatoris sui unici cui sit omnis gloria et Benedictio 
1617, mensisq' Januarii 9. 

Arms* quarterly — first, gules three chevronels inter- 

" Herelieth Sir Marmaduke Wyvell, Knight, the first Baronet of his name, 
son and heir of Christopher, by Margaret, daughter of John Scrope. Chris- 
topher was son and heir of Marmaduke and Agnes, one of the five sisters and 
co-heiresses of John, son and heir of Sir Ralph Fitz Randall, Knight, and 
Elizabeth, one of the three sisters and co-heiresses of Ralph, Lord Scrope of 
Masham. Marmaduke was the son and heir of Robert, son and heir of 
Robert and Joan, daughter and heiress of John Pigot. 

In the year of our Lord 1613, when this monument was erected, Marma- 
duke, by Magdalen, daughter of Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, had six 
sons and two daughters living. His then heir apparent was his son Chris- 
topher, Marmaduke, son of Christopher, Barbara, the only begotten daughter 
of Marmaduke. 

He lived to the age of seventy-six years, and died in the year of his only 
Redeemer (to whom be all glory and blessing) 1617, and on the 9th day of 
the month of January." 

The information afforded by this inscription does not accord with the pedi- 
gree of the Wyvills, as given in Burke's " Extinct and Dormant Baronet- 
cies," wherein, amongst other omissions, nothing is said of the marriage of 
Robert Wyvill with Joan, the daughter of John Pigot, as here stated. 

* Dodsworth in his Notes, before alluded to, gives the arms as follows : — 
Quarterings— First, gules three chevrons embraced gules [Qy. Vaire] a 
chief or. Second — Sable three pickaxes argent a crescent moon or. Third — 
azure a chief dancette or. Fourth, azure a bend or with a file argent paled 
with azure abend or with a crescent moon argent. The same paled with Danby. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 383 

laced, vair, a chief, or, Wyvell. Second, sable, three 
pickaxes, argent, a crescent for a difference, Pigot. 
Third, azure, a chief indented or, Fitzrandolph. Fourth, 
azure, a bend, or, with a label for a difference, Scrope of 
Masham. 

On the opposite side is another chapel, the burial- 
place of the Danby s of S win ton, who having inherited 
the great estates of Masham from the Scropes, and hold- 
ing the barony itself in abeyance with the Wyvells, 
having long resided at Swinton in great opulence, though 
contented with the rank of private gentlemen. Of this 
family there is a sumptuous mural monument at the 
east end with a bust to the memory of Abstrupus Danby, 
Esq., together with several others of smaller account to 
other members of the family. 

In the North aisle : 

Ab hoc non procul marmore jacet Abstrupus Danby 
miles suae (favente Deo) Familiae Restaurator. Natus 
vicessimo septimo die Decembris anno Christi Milessimo 
sexcentesimo quinquagessimo quinto. Denatus vicessimo 
quarto die Decembris Milessimo Septugentessimo vices- 
simo septimo. In cujus memoriam Abstrupus Danby 
Armiger Filius unigenitus, hoc monumentum gratissimo 
amino posuit vicessimo die Septembris Anno Salutis 
1737.* 

" Here lieth all that is mortall of Dame Judith Danby 7 
late the beloved wife of Sir Abstrupus Danby, Knight, 
Lord of the Manors and Liberties of Mashamshire, who 
departed this life at Swinton the 22nd day of January, 
1712. 

* The following is a translation of this Inscription : 

" Near to this monument lies Abstrupus Danby, Knight (God favouring 
him) he was the restorer of his family. Born the 27th day of December, in 
the year of Christ, 1655. Died the 24th day of December, 1727. In whose 
memory Abstrupus Danby, Esq., his only son, erected this monument with 
a most grateful mind on the 20th day of September, in the year of our sal- 
vation 1737." 



384 MASHAM AtfD MASHAMSHTRE. 

Mors mihi lucrum [Death is gain to me]. 
Thro' death I 'm passed to everlasting life, 
And so am quit of all your worldly strife, 
Cease to lament for me : yourselves deplore : 
I have all happiness & wish no more : 
Those temporary Joys I had before." 

H. S. E. 
Abstrupus Danby Armiger qui obiit 12mo Martu a.d. 
1750 aet 70. ExElizabetha uxore filia Arthuri Ingram 
de Barraby Armigeri tres filios et unam filiam susceptos 
reliquit superstites supremum munus posuit Gulielmus 
filius primogenitus.* 

"Here lie the bodies of William Danby, Esq., who died 
April 8th, 1781, aged 69, and of Mary his wife, the 
daughter of Gilbert Affleck, Esq., of Dalham, in the 
county of Sussex, who died June 8th, 1773, leaving him 
three children then surviving (Mary, William, and Eliza- 
beth). This Monument is erected in grateful testimony 
of all that a son can owe to the tenderest and most ex- 
cellent of parents and christians. 

The memory of the just is "blessed, 

The hope of the righteous shall be gladness. 

Proverbs." 

H. S. M. 
" Depositae sunt reliquae Thomae Lockhart unius ex 
Familia Cornwarth in Brittannia Septentrionali. In 
mense Julii 1772, Mariam, major em natu filiam Gulielmi 
Danby Armigeri uxorem duxit obiit vicessimo secundo 
die Augusti 1775, prope triginta annos natus."f 

* The following is a translation of this Inscription :— 

" Here lies interred Ahstrupus Danby, Esq., who died the 12th March, 

1750, aged 70. By Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Arthur Ingram, of 

Barraby, Esq., he left three sons and one daughter, him surviving. His 

eldest son William erected this last tribute." 

f The following is a translation of this Inscription : — 

" Here are deposited the remains of Thomas Lockhart, one of the family 

of Cornwarth in North Britain. In the month of July, 1772, he married 



MASHAM CHURCH. 



385 



" Thomas Danby, Esq., married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Thomas Wentworth, of Wentworth Woodhouse, Esq. 
He died Jan. 3rd, a.d. 1582. She lived many years 
after him at Pott Grange and was a great benefactress 
to his family."* 

At the East end of the church is this epitaph : 




odtober 



\W^°^ 



CONFINED . IN . A . BED : OF . DVst 
HEAR . DOTH . A . BODY . LYE 
BAiSED . AGAiN . IT . WiLL . I TRVst 
iNTO . THE : HEAVENS : HiGH 
SiN . NOT . BVT . HAVE . A CABE 
TO : MAKE . YOVr . CALLING . SVBe 

OMiT . those . things . which triual are 

p rise . that wc . wiLL . Indure 

HanGe . not . your Mind . on secular things 

Each one . doth . fade . apace 

Biches . the . chief . of . wc hath wings 

A . MATRON GRAVE . 19 . HERE . INTER'D 
• WHOSE . SOVL . IN HEAVEN IS PREFERR'D 
AFTER HER GRANDSON LOST HIS BREATH 
SHE SOON SVRRENDER'D VNTO DEATH 

Keeping . no . certaine . place 

Adict Your . selues . unto . his conuersation 

you '1 . purchase . heauen . for your Habitation. 

Of the Lords Scrope there neither is in all probability 
any interment in this church nor any memorial, except 
their arms in one of the south windows, which remained 
anno 1622. It does not appear indeed that though 

Mary the eldest daughter of William Danby, Esq. He died the 22nd day 
of August, 1775, in the thirtieth year of his age. 
* See ante, pages 264 and 265. 

AA 



386 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

owners of all Mashamshire they ever had a seat in the 
parish. Clifton,* their nearest residence, is in the parish 
of Watlass, but Clifton, as we learned from L eland, was 
only a tower or castlet, so that their general abode must 
have been at Upsal Castle, as we know that the place of 
interment of many of them was in York Cathedral, where 
they had a chapel. 

Besides the several monuments above alluded to by 
Dr. Whitaker, there are several others in the church also 
worthy of mention, upon which are the several inscrip- 
tions mentioned below, viz : 

" In memory of Roger Beckwith,*f" of Aldbrough, Esq., 
who dyed on Monday, the 19th of January, in the year 
1634, and was buried near this place. He married 
Susanna the daughter of Mr. Brackenbury, of Sellaby, 
in the county Palatine of Durham, by whom he had 
Arthur, his successor, and seven other children, four sons 
and three daughters. She departed this life the 28th 
day of October, Anno Domini 1670, and lyes buried in 
the Parish Church of Skelborough. He was the son of 
Marmaduke Beckwith, of Acton, by Anne, daughter of 
Mr. Dynley, of Bramhope, which Marmaduke was the 

* In the 3rd vol. of Camden's " Britannia," by Gough, it is said " A little 
above Masham, at Clifton, near the river [Yore] are the ruins of a large 
building of antient Gothic Architecture, which was formerly the seat of 
the Lords Scrope of Masham. — Part of it is inhabited by Mr. T. Beckwith, 
a gentleman farmer." 

It is further stated in White's " Gazeteer of Yorkshire," page 595, that 
" Clifton Castle, a handsome Grecian mansion pleasantly situated in a beau- 
tiful Park, embossed with thriving plantations, and built in 1802, on the 
site of an ancient mansion of Geoffrey le Scrope, who had large possessions 
in that neighbourhood, and in the reign of Edw. II. obtained a license to 
make a Castle of his House at Clifton. The Manor of Clifton passed from 
the Lord Scropes of Masham to Sir Ralph Fitz Randolph, and after- 
wards to the Wyvills, Daltons, and Prestons — the latter of whom sold it 
to John Hutton, Esq., of Marsk." — See also ante, p. 295. 

f He was succeeded in his estates by his son Arthur Beckwith, Esq., of 
Aldborough, who is also buried in Masham Church. The inscription upon 
the Brass erected there to the memory of Arthur, will be referred to pre- 
sently. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 387 

next in descent to Huntington Beckwith, of Clint,* where 
the family had continued from the tenth year of King 
Henry III., a.d. 1226, until the year 1597, when the 
aforesaid Roger Beckwith sold his lands in Clint and 
purchased Aldborough." 

" To the memory of Arthur Beckwithf of Aldbrough, 

* The Beckwiths were formerly a very numerous race, the main stock of 
which was settled at a very early period at Clint in the Parish of Ripley. 
Their moated mansion (which is now in ruins) was situate on an elevated 
spot opposite to the village of Hampsthwaite, commanding charming pros- 
pects of the lower end of the Vale of Nidderdale. There they flourished 
until about the close of the sixteenth or the beginning of the seventeenth 
century; but their last days were clouded by misfortunes. The circum- 
stances which occasioned the sale of the old family estate and mansion at 
Clint, were of a melancholy character. William Beckwith of Clint (who 
was the father of Huntingdon Beckwith of Clint, mentioned in the above 
inscription) having succeeded his father in the Clint estate in 1575, married 
Jane daughter of William Tancred, Esq., of Boroughbridge, sister of his 
father's second wife. By this incestuous and unholy alliance he had a son, 
William (who died without issue) and two daughters, Elizabeth and Anne, 
of whom the latter was twice married, and had issue. Whilst he was serv- 
ing in Ireland as captain in the army, his wife proved unfaithful to him. 
In consequence of this painful circumstance, he not only repudiated her and 
cast her off as his wife, but, during her lifetime, married Mary daughter of 
Anthony Salmon, of Annesley Woodhouse in Nottinghamshire (chamber- 
maid to the Countess of Huntingdon). By this marriage he had issue, 
Huntingdon (mentioned in the inscription above), William,* Henry, Cath- 
erine, and Isabel. His second wife died in 1601, and he lived to survive 
her but some six years, having died in 1607. His eldest son, Huntingdon, 
married in his parents' liftime, viz., on the 19th of February, 1589, Margaret 
daughter of Thomas Mering, of Mering in Nottinghamshire, who became 
insane, and, having survived her husband, died without issue, and in great 
poverty, as appears by a memorandum to that effect placed opposite to the 
registration of their marriage at Ripley, viz., "in great poverty, at Ripley 
church, 4th of May, 1655. The family of Beckwith both gone, and Mering." 
— See Walbran's " Memorials of Fountains Abbey," p. 323. 

Roger Beckwith — who is also mentioned in this inscription, and appears 
to have saved something out of the wreck of the old family estate at Clint, 
and to have invested it in the purchase of the Aldburgh estate — was of this 
same family, and was the father of Arthur Beckwith, of whom I shall pro- 
ceed to speak presently. 

t Arthur Beckwith was the son of Roger Beckwith, the purchaser of the 
Aldborough Estate, who died January 19, 1634. He was a captain in the 



388 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Esq., who dyed in the service of his country anno 1642. 
"He married Mary, eldest daughter of Sir Marmaduke 

Parliamentary army, in which service he was slain in 1642. He married a 
daughter of Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, as stated in the text. It appears that 
after his death his widow (who was a Roman Catholic) having persisted in 
bringing up the children to her own religion to the great mortification of the 
Beckwith family (who were great puritans) their grandmother (Mrs. Susanna 
Beckwith) and their uncles (John Anlaby and John Odingsells) petitioned 
the House of Commons that the custody of Marmaduke, the heir, should be 
taken from her and committed to them. The influence of the Beckwiths 
being then great with Parliament, their request was granted, and on the 21st 
August, 1647, an Ordinance was ordered to be brought in for that purpose. — 
" Journal of House of Commons," vol. v. p. 281. The widow having en- 
deavoured to convey the children abroad, so as to defeat the object of the 
Ordinance, the House, on the 30th January, 1649, again interfered, by di- 
recting the Council of State to give such directions in the matter as might 
be requisite. — Ibid, vol. vi. p. 353. The widow, although defeated in her 
object, as regards the heir Marmaduke, succeeded in her purposes so far as 
regards the educating of her second son Roger (who by the death of his elder 
brother ultimately became the heir) as a Roman Catholic. This last mentioned 
Roger Beckwith having on the death of his brother succeeded to the estates 
was created a Baronet by King Charles II., on the 15th April, 1681, just 
eight days after his second marriage. He committed suicide by shooting 
himself on the 6th December, 1700, at his father-in-law's house near to Ripon 
Minster, at which last mentioned place he was buried. Whilst he was 
living he gave much trouble here in church matters, and was the cause of 
the suit of Batt v. Watkinson which settled the question as to the validity of 
the body called the Four and Twenty of the Parish of Masham. He left by 
his second wife two sons, viz : Roger, his heir (hereinafter mentioned) and 
Marmaduke, the latter of whom, following the fortunes of the Jennings 
family, went to America, and was Clerk of the Peace in Virginia. Roger, 
the eldest son and heir-at-law, having succeeded to the estates and the 
Baronetcy, was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in the year 1706. On the 10th 
October, 1705, he married Jane, daughter and sole heiress of Benjamin 
Waddington, Esq., of Allerton Gledhow, and by her (who died in the year 
1713) had two sons, viz : Roger and Edmund (who both died unmarried) and 
a daughter Jane, who eventually became his heiress, and married Beilby 
Thompson, Esq. of Micklethwaite Grange. By this marriage she had a 
daughter, Jane Thompson, who married Peregrine Wentworth, but died 
ultimately without issue. Sir Roger, like his father, committed suicide by 
shooting himself with a pistol at Aldborough Hall, in May, 1743, when the 
Baronetcy became extinct. Soon after his death the Aldburgh estate was 
sold, and by that means came into the possession of an ancestor of the pre- 
sent owner, John Timothy D'Arcy Hutton, Esq. 



MASHAM CHUECII. 389 

Wyvell, Kt. and Bt., by whom he left two sons and three 
daughters. She dyed in the year-1646, and was buried 
in the church of St. Clement Danes, London. 

" Roger his successor, married two wives, first Eliza- 
beth daughter of Sir Christopher Clapham of Beamsley, 
Knt., who departed this life the first day of December in 
the year 1673, and was buried near this place. Secondly, 
Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edmund Jennings, Kt., with 
whom he lyes buried in the Collegiate Church at Ripon," 

" Near this place are deposited the remains of William 
Beckwith,* Esq., of Lamb-hill, he departed this life June 
the 5th, 1762, aged sixty-two. Catherine his wife, 
second daughter of Charles Lister, of Ripon, died Jan- 
uary the 25th, 1776, aged sixty, leaving issue Mary, 
Catherine, Elizabeth, and Dorothy. 

" Their youngest daughter caused this tablet to be 
erected. 

"John Beckwith, Esq. of Masham, brother of the 
above William Beckwith, died December the 14th, 1761, 
aged fifty -four." 

" In the adjoining vault are deposited the mortal re- 

* William Beckwith, of Lamb-hill near Masham, was the son of William 
Beckwith of Lamb-hill (hereafter mentioned) and was descended from Tho- 
mas Beckwith, of Sutton -Grange near Ripon, who died in 1672, and who, 
with his son Thomas, purchased the Lamb-hill estate on the 7th May, 1656. 
Thomas Beckwith the son, had a son (William Beckwith of Lamb-hill) who 
married Dorothy Pickersgill of Mickley (who died on the 3rd Deer. 1745, 
aged 70, and is buried in the church at Kirkby Malzeard), by whom he had 
two sons, viz., William Beckwith of Lamb-hill (who married Catherine 
Lister of Ripon, by whom she had four daughters, viz., Mary, Catherine, 
Elizabeth, and Dorothy, as stated in the text), and John Beckwith of Mas- 
ham, and a daughter, Mary, who married John Lonsdale of Masham, the 
ancestor to the present Bishop of Lichfield. — See ante, p. 307. 

Samuel Beckwith of Aldbrough, and afterwards of High Burton, second 
brother of Thomas Beckwith, the son above-mentioned, married a daughter 
of Rowland Walker of Masham, who was nearly related to the celebrated 
Dr. Walker, the gallant defender of Londonderry. — Walbran's " Memorials 
of Fountains Abbey," p. 326. 



390 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

mains of William Danby, Esquire, late of Swinton Park, 
in this Parish. He was only son of William Danby and 
Mary Affleck his wife. Born xxviii. June, mdcclii. 
Died iv. December, mdcccxxxiii. Married first in 
mdcclxxv. Caroline Seymour, by whom he had one son 
William, who died an infant mdcclxxix. Secondly in 
mdcccxxii. Anne Hoi well Gater who survived him 
without children, and in the affectionate wish to record 
his virtues erected this monument to his memory. 

" The last of the antient family which he adorned by 
his excellence. He spent his long and active life in the 
improvement of his patrimony. He erected numerous 
buildings, he called extensive wastes hito cultivation, 
and constructed the greater part of the mansion in which 
he passed and ended his peaceful days. He possessed 
the purest qualities of a Christian philanthropist, be- 
nevolent, humble, and forbearing, warm in his attach- 
ments, in his manners equal and affable, sincere in all 
things. His charity knew no stinted limits, for it pro- 
ceeded from his heart. And while generous in the sup- 
port of public institutions, above all things he was the 
patron of the poor. He relieved their wants, he redres- 
sed their wrongs, he provided for their education, and 
thus deserving and acquiring the affection of all around 
him, he was followed to the grave by their tears. He 
united considerable natural talents with various and 
elegant accomplishments, and whilst he devoted much 
leisure to the study and imitation of eminent writers in 
many languages, the book which he best loved to study 
was the great book of nature, wherein he clearly read 
and with a thankful heart acknowledged the power and 
goodness of its author. 

" Thus endowed with the best gifts and qualities of 
this world he forgot not the things pertaining to his sal- 
vation, and the life of the world to come. And as he 
descended into the vale of years and drew nearer and 
nearer to his God, he was enlightened with clearer views 
of divine love : and amidst the sinkings of decaying nature 



MASHAM CHUBCH. 391 

he placed his firm though trembling trust in the cross of 
his Kedeemer.'' 

" Sacred to the memory of Caroline, daughter of 
Henry Seymour, Esq., and wife of William Danby, Esq., 
who has inscribed this tribute of affectionate remem- 
brance of the many amiable engaging and estimable 
qualities that distinguished her as a wife, a friend, and a 
christian. She died at Bristol Hot Wells, March 3rd, 
1821, aged sixty- six." 

" Sacred to the memory of Mary, Countess Harcourt, 
widow of Field Marshal William, last Earl Harcourt, and 
eldest daughter of William Danby, of Swinton, Esq. and 
Mary, daughter of Gilbert Affleck, of Dalham, in the 
county of Suffolk, Esq.* Born at Swinton, 12th March, 
1748, married first, Thomas Lockhart, Esq., in 1772. 
Secondly, the Hon. Col. William Harcourt,f in 1778, with 
whom she lived in greatest harmony and affection for 
above fifty-two years, and died 14th January, 1833, and 
was buried at Staunton Harcourt, Oxfordshire. 

" Also to the memory of Elizabeth Danby, the only 
other daughter of the said William and Mary Danby. 
Born in London 4th September, 1754. Died at Lyons, 
October, 1786, and was there buried. 

* Gilbert Affleck, Esq., was the son of John Affleck, by Neeltice daughter 
of Gilbert Schape, merchant of Amsterdam. He married Arme the daugh- 
ter of John Dolben, Esq., by whom he had a family of eighteen children, 
of whom Mary the wife of William Danby, Esq., of Swinton Park, and 
the mother of the late William Danby, Esq., and the Countess Harcourt, 
was the sixteenth child. His son Edward (who was his tenth child) 
having distinguished himself in the Naval Service (as mentioned ante, page 
282) was created a Baronet on May 28th, 1782. 

t He traced his Pedigree to Bernard, a nobleman of the royol blood of 
Saxony, who acquired, in 876, when Hollo the Dane made himself master 
of Normandy, the Lordship of Harcourt, Caileville, and Beauficel, in that 
Principality. The immediate founder of the family, however, was Simon 
Harcourt, a lawyer of eminence who became Lord Chancellor of Great 
Britain, and was elevated to the Peerage on the 3rd of Septr., 1711, by the 
title of Baron Harcourt. To him succeeded his grandson, Simon Harcourt, 
who was on the 21st of Deer., 1749, created Earl of Harcourt, from whom 
the Earldom descended to his grandson, Colonel Harcourt, above-named. 



392 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

u This tablet is inscribed as a last tribute of affection 
to his beloved sisters by their only brother William 
Danby, of Swinton, Park, Esq., now in the eighty-second 
year of his age. November, 1833." 

" In the middle aisle lie the remains of William Hard- 
castle,* of Masham, gentleman, who died March 26th, 

* William Hardcastle was a solicitor, and practiced at Masham. He 
was the steward of the Copyhold Court of the Dissolved Prebend of 
Masham ; and, during the time of his stewardship, the Court Rolls of the 
Manor were burnt, either by accident or design. The consequence of the 
loss of such Court Rolls was, that much property became lost to the Manor, 
and has since become freehold. He was brother to John Hardcastle, Esq., 
of Bedale, Barrister-at-Law, whose pedigree I give below. He married 
Mercy (daughter of Mr. Richard West of Wakefield) who died at Masham, 
on the 5th Deer., 1801, aged 76 years. He died on the 26th of March, 
1782, aged 62 years, having had the following nine children by his said 
wife, viz : — I. John, who died in his infancy. II. Richard, who also died 
in his infancy. III. Thomas, who died without issue. IV. William who 
also died without issue. V. Mary, who died unmarried. VI. Elizabeth, 
who died unmarried on the 13th of March, 1830, aged 75. VII. Jane, who 
died unmarried. VIII. Henrietta, who married John Baines of Masham, 
surgeon (whom I mention presently). She died on the 22nd of Sep., 1804, 
aged 43 years, having had a family of children as hereafter mentioned. 
IX. Charlotte, who married Mr. Smalt, by whom she had issue. 

John Hardcastle, Esq., of Bedale, Barrister-at-Law (above-mentioned) 
married Jane daughter of Gregory Elsley, Esq., of Patrick Brompton, who 
died on the 2nd, and was buried at Bedale on the 7th of May, 1806, aged 
87 years. He died on the 15th, and was buried at Bedale on the 19th of 
December, 1805, aged 96 years. He had by his said wife an only daughter, 
Elizabeth, who was baptized at Bedale on the 9th of April, 1747, and was 
married to Edward Carter, Esq., of Theakston Hall near Bedale, on the 
11th of May, 1768. She died on the 13th, and was buried on the 19th of 
August, 1834, aged 87 years. She had by her said husband the following 
children : — 

I. Jane, who was baptized 3rd July, 1769. She married Roger Martin, 
solicitor, Bedale, and died at Masham on the 9th of March, 1850, aged 80, 
without issue. 

II. Elizabeth Frances, who was baptized the 23rd of July, 1770. She 
married Mr. Hardy, surgeon, of Bedale. She died on the 19th of April, 
1812, aged 41, leaving by her said husband the following children: — 

I. Edward Hardy, formerly of Valparaiso, but late of Fairlawn, near 
Ripon ? now deceased. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 393 

1782, and Mary, his wife, who departed this life, Decem- 
ber 5th, 1801, leaving two sons, Thomas and William 
(who died without issue) also five daughters, Mary, 
Elizabeth, Jane, Henrietta, and Charlotte. 

" Elizabeth diedat Masham, unmarried, the 13th day of 
March, 1830, aged seventy-five, and by her will desired 

II. John Hardy, who assumed the name of Hardcastle, and died at 
Masham without issue, on the 29th July, 1856, aged 50. 

III. Richard Hardy, now (1863) living at Thorp- Arch. 

IV. Mary Hardy, now living (1863) at Thorp-Arch. 

III. Harriet, who was baptized on the 12th of March, 1777, and died 
without issue. 

IV. Edward John Carter, Esq., late of Theakston Hall, near Bedale, 
but now deceased, the father of Edward Carter, Esq., of Theakston Hall, 
now a Justice of the Peace for the North Riding of Yorkshire. 

The Hardcastles were an old and influential family in this and the adjoin- 
ing parish of Kirkby-Malzeard, as well as in Nidderdale, where they were 
possessed of considerable landed estates. Before the dissolution of the mon- 
asteries they appear to have held intimate relations with the monks of Foun- 
tains Abbey. During the Civil Wars they warmly epoused the cause of 
King Charles, and were made to suffer for it. Accordingly we find that one 
of their names appears as a sufferer for his loyalty in the " List of such 
persons from whom the Commissioners for Compositions with Delinquents 
at Goldsmith's Hall, have purchased any Revenue for increase of mainte- 
nance to the Ministry, allowing for the same proportionably by deduction 
out of the Fines imposed on them. Published for the use of those whom it 
may concern, 1648," as will appear by the following extract : — 

" 22 Julii, 1647. Wm. Hardcastle, of Larton in the County of York, 
Gent, to settle the Rectory of Coverham and the Chapel thereto belonging, 
forever, for which he is to be allowed out of his second payment." 

The name of this same person also appears in " A Catalogue of the Lords, 
Knights, and Gentlemen that have compounded for their estates," " Printed 
for Thomas Dring, at the sign of the George in Fleet-street, near Clifford's 
Inne, June, 1655," as appears by the following extract : " Hardcastle, Will, 
Larton, York, Gent, £138." 

Notwithstanding the great losses which they sustained by the Civil Wars, 
the family still retained a considerable amount of family pride. Old Mat- 
thew Metcalf, the Parish Clerk at Masham, records in his private Register, 
under the date of 25th Septr., 1808, the Burial of Miss Hardcastle of Mas- 
ham, aged 55, as having taken place at 8 o'clock at night by torchlight; and 
there is a tradition that one of the ladies of this family gave utterance to a 
wish that there should be a curtain in Heaven to separate the poor from 
the rich. 



394 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

this tablet to be erected in affectionate regard to the 
memory of her parents." 

" In memory of John Baines,* surgeon, who died at 
Masham, the 5th of May, 1821, aged sixty-one years, es- 
teemed and regretted by all who knew him. To con- 
siderable skill and experience in his professional capacity 
he united the most humane attention, and in private life 
was distinguished by his urbanity and benevolence of 
disposition. 

" And of Henrietta, his wife, the fourth daughter of 
the late William Hardcastle, Esq., of Masham, who died 
22nd of September, 1804, aged forty-three years. 

"As a feeble testimony of affection their son and 
daughter have caused this monument to be erected." 

" Sacred to the memory of Samuel Wrather, f who 
died on the 7th of April, 1806, aged eighty-eight years, 
also of Elizabeth Wrather, his wife, who died on the 12th 
of October, 1780, aged forty-four years. Also of their 
sons and daughters, the Reverend John Wrather, J B.A. 

* Mr. Baines was a cousin of the late Mr. Edward Baines, the proprie- 
tor of the " Leeds Mercury." He carried on for many years an extensive 
practice as a surgeon at Masham, where he was much respected and had 
great influence. He married Henrietta (the fourth daughter of the late 
William Hardcastle of Masham before mentioned), and by her had the fol- 
lowing- children, viz : — I. Mary, who died in her infancy, the 19th of June, 
1799. II. William, who also died in his infancy, the 2nd of August, 1799, 
aged 13 years. III. Henrietta, who died the 9th of August, 1806, aged 24 
years. IV. John, who resided in London, and died there, leaving issue. 
V. Anna, who, on the 23rd of August, 1810, married (1st), John Lodge 
Battley, Esq., of Masham (the only son of the late Jeremiah Battley, Esq., 
of Masham), who died the 19th of May, 1820. She married, secondly, on 
the 25th of May, 1822, Charles Harrison, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, who on 
his marriage took the name of Battley, and was M.P. for Beverley, by 
whom she has left issue. She died the 19th of June, 1863, at Eamonscore 
Manor House, near Warwick, aged 78. 

f Samuel Wrather was Chief Constable for the Division of Hang East, 
and also carried on the business of woolstapler at Masham. He was blind 
for many years before he died. 

J The Rev. John Wrather was a wag and a poet. His verses, especially 
those on Hackfall, were very much prized by the people of Masham, who 



MASH AM CHUECH. 395 

of Trinity College, Cambridge, who died on the 6th of 
November, 1800, aged twenty-five years. William 
Wrather, solicitor, who died in London on the 21st of 
October, 1814, aged thirty-four years. Thomas Wrather,* 
captain in the 3rd West York Regiment of Militia, who 
died on the 22nd of July, 1841, aged fifty-nine years. 
Elizabeth Wratherf who died on the 15th of June, 1853, 
aged seventy-six years. Samuel Wrather J who died on 

took great delight in repeating them. The following lines, on Johnny 
Knubley's Barber's Pole, were, however, to my mind, the best production of 
his muse : 

" The Spiral Pole from far was seen 

To tell the world that there 
Frail man might lose his lengthen'd beard, 

In Johnnie's Elbow-chair ; 
Their shatter'd heads with age grown hoar, 

Or robb'd of hair in vain, 
But Johnnie can their loss restore, 

And make them young again." 

He was also the composer of the inscriptions put upon the Portrait of 
the same famous Johnnie Knubley, " drawn and etched from nature by 
J. C. Ibbotson, 1802," viz., " Johannes Knubleus, Depilator & Fac totum 
Celerrimus Celeberrimusque," and " John Knubley the famous Barber of 
the old School & Mambrino's last surviving helmet- bearer, Masham, Yorksh." 

* Captain Wrather will be long remembered, as an old and highly re- 
spected inhabitant of Masham. He raised from his late father's hack-mare, 
a small but valuable stud of race-horses, which were destined, after his death, 
to cut a conspicuous figure on the turf. He did not, however, live long 
enough to reap the benefit of his labours, by witnessing the successes of the 
horses which he had thus reared and trained. 

t Elizabeth Wrather, by her Will dated the 4th of May, 1853, gave " to 
the Blind Assylum at York, the Wilberforee Memorial, £100 exempt from 
the Legacy duty. To the School at Scarbeck Wall, Masham, £100 of my 
3 j per cents funded property, for the education of poor boys from the most 
destitute families in Masham. I wish this Legacy to remain in the funds. 
After a certain time the poor children will take their turns of removal to 
the Free School, and others will be appointed to their places — the Vicar of 
Masham to have the nomination.'^ . ......" I leave a Sovereign a year to the 

Dorcas Society." I regret, however, to add that, through the supineness of 
the vicar, this charity is lost to the town. 

% Samuel Wrather was a commissioned officer in the old Mashamshire 
Volunteers. Having succeeded to his brother's racing stud, at his death, he 
had the gratification of winning with his horse " Nutwith," the St. Leger 
of 1843, and also several other important stakes with " Miss Lydia," and 
" The Maid of Masham." 



396 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the 18th of December, 1854, aged seventy-six years. 
Mary Wrather* who died on the 14th of March, 1860, 
aged eighty-six years." 

" In memory of the Reverend Joseph Burrillf who 
died March 1st, 1853, aged eighty-nine years. He was 
forty-nine years curatej of this his native place, and late 
Rector of Broughton Sulney, Notts. Also of Lucinda 
his wife, eldest daughter of the late William Wrather of 
Masham, Esq. She died June 4th, 1839, aged seventy- 
six years. Their remains lie interred in the church of 
Broughton Sulney. 

" 4 Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord/ — Rev. 
xiv., 13." 

" Mrs. Marsden,§ of Hanover Terrace, Regent's Park, 
London, gave the sum of £220, 3 per Cent Consolidated 

* By the death of Mary Wrather this branch of the Wrather family be- 
came extinct — all her brothers, as well as her sister, having- died unmarried. 

t The Rev. Joseph Burrill was born at Masham in 1764, and was the 
only son of the late Joseph Burrill of Masham (who died 23rd of October, 
1806, aged 76 years) and Elizabeth his wife, (who died 29th of October, 
1810, aged 75 years.) He, on the 20th of June, 1794, married Lucinda, 
daughter of the late William Wrather of Masham, by whom he had eight 
children, viz : — I. Charles, who died 20th July, 1802, aged 1 year. II. Wil- 
liam, now of Liverpool. III. Joseph, who was a solicitor in Masham, and 
died suddenly on the 22nd of March, 1830, aged 34 years. IV. John, who, 
on Sept. 26th, 1826, married Anne daughter of the late James Blackburn 
of Masham, deceased, by whom he left issue. He died 14th June, 1846, 
aged 48 years. V. Thomas, who died 11th Sept., 1827, aged 24 years. 
VI. James. VII. Mary. VIII. Elizabeth, now the widow of the late Rev. 
William Glaister. 

\ Besides being Curate of Masham, he was also, for very many years the 
Head Master of the Grammar School at Masham, and the proprietor of a 
very extensive Boarding School here, which, in its day, was held in very 
high repute. His predecessor, as Head Master of the Grammar School, 
was a Mr. Wilson ; and his immediate successor in it was Mr. Edmund 
Barker of Masham ; who has been again succeeded by Mr. Henry Stubbs, 
the present master. 

§ Mrs. Marsden was a daughter of the late William Wrather of Mas- 
ham, and sister to Lucinda the wife of the Rev. Joseph Burrill above 
mentioned. 



MASHAM CHUECH. 397 

Annuities and caused the same to be transferred on the 
22nd of February, 1842, to the Reverend Thomas Ricl- 
dell, vicar of Masham, William Bur rill, and John Burrill, 
Esqrs. In Trust, viz : the interest to be applied annually 
for the benefit of such poor people of the parish of Mas- 
ham as the said trustees in their discretion shall think 
proper. N.B. The vicar of Masham for the time being 
is always considered as one of the Trustees." 

" In the church-yard, on the north side, are deposited 
the remains of William Morton,* Steward for thirty 
years to William Danbys, Esquires (Father and Son) of 
Swinton. He died December 19th, 1798, aged fifty-six. 
His worth and fidelity are in the memory of those who 
knew him on earth. His reward we trust is in heaven." 

" Sacred to the memory of Major Har court Morton, 
who died on the 4th of June, 1854, aged sixty-eight 
years. 

" Also of Elizabeth Morton, the beloved mother of the 
above, who died on the 27th of February, 1832, aged 
eighty -five years. 

" To Jane, widow of John Thirkhill, Esq., dis- 
tinguished by unaffected piety, extensive charity, and 
exemplary patience under very severe sufferings, this 
Tablet is placed by her affectionate godson as a memorial 
of his gratitude and of her christian virtues. 

" Born at Masham, Sep. 27th, 1782. Died in London, 
July 27th, 1812. 

* He married Elizabeth (who died 27th Feb., 1832, aged 85 years), 

by whom he had five children, viz : — I. William, his successor in the stew- 
ardship, but afterwards became steward to the late Mrs. Lawrence and the 
Earl de Grey, successively. He married Louisa daughter of the late Rich- 
ard Strang ways, Esq., of Well, by whom he left issue. II. George, who 
was a solicitor. III. Harcourt, who was a major in the army, and was 
wounded in the Peninsular War. He died 4th June, 1854, aged 68, with- 
out issue. IV. Mary, who, on the 23rd of Nov., 1810, married Mr. Charles 
Pickslay of Sheffield, and had issue. V. Martha, who died 23rd February, 
1862, unmarried. 



398 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

" She bequeathed One hundred Pounds towards the 
insitution of a Female Union Society in this Parish." 

" Sacred to the memory of John Lodge Battley, Esq., 
who died the 19th of May, 1820, aged fifty-six years. 

" To rescue from oblivion his departed worth there 
needs no inscriptive Tablet, since it is indelibly engraven 
on the hearts of all who knew him. For filial piety and 
attention, for the most perfect urbanity of manners, and 
those various qualities of the head and heart, which make 
men estimable, he was conspicuous. He was at once the 
christian, the scholar, and the gentleman, and a most 
affectionate and tender husband. 

" His Widow has caused this memorial to be placed as 
a tribute of her respect and gratitude." 

" In memory of John Harrison, Esq., formerly Purser 
in the Royal Navy, who died at Masham, June 19th, 
1808, aged seventy-four. 

" A man much esteemed both in his public station, 
and in his retirement ; respected by the honourable for 
his integrity ; courted by the social for his vivacity and 
information, and much sought after by the sick and 
needy for his active benevolence. 

" Also of Phillis Harrison, his sister, who died April 
23rd, 1800, aged sixty-eight. 

" This monument is erected by Grace, the wife of Sam- 
uel Broomhead Ward, Esq., of Mount Pleasant, near 
Sheffield, and daughter of the late Thos. Martindale, of 
Masham, gent., who died May 14th, 1789, aged seventy- 
four, as a small tribute of gratitude to a relative who was 
a kind friend and a benefactor to her and her family." 

" John Lonsdale* of Masham, who departed this life 
ye 18 of Feb., 1703, se. . . . ". Mutilated. 

" Mary the wife of Mr. John Lonsdale f of Masham, 

* He was the great-grandfather of the present Bishop of Lichfield. 
f She was the grandmother of the present Bishop of Lichfield. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 399 

and Daughter of Mr. William Beckwith, late of Lamb- 
hill, buried Sep'b'r 20th, 1739, aged 36 years. Also 
Mary her Daughter, buried June 20th, 1740, aged 4 
years. 

" Mr. John Lonsdale* was here also interred May 1st, 
1784, aged 82." 

" Here lyeth the body of Arthur Marshall of Masham, 
who died the 28th of Feb., 1689. 

Is mihi erat conjux dum vita manebat 
Quem spero superas nunc habitare domus. — M. M." 

" Here lieth the body of William Hardcastle of Mas- 
ham, who departed this life the 31st of March, 1782, 
aged 68 years. Also the bodies of John and Richard, 
his sons, who died in their youth. Also near this place 
lie the body of Mr. Richard West of Wakefield, who 
departed this life December the 3rd, 1768, aged 71 
years." 

" Here lieth the body of Mrs. Mercy Hardcastle, wi- 
dow of Mr. Willm. Hardcastle, and daughter of Mr. 
Richd. West of Wakefield, who departed this life Deer. 
7, 1801, aged 76 years." 

" Here lieth interred the body of Mary Relict of Tho- 
mas Johnson late of Mickley, Gent. She departed this 
life the 9th of July, 1716, aged 80 years. Near this- 
place also lye the body of John their youngest son. 
He departed this life the 22nd of November, 1729, aged 
23 years." 

" Beneath this stone are interred the remains of Dor- 
othy, daughter of the late John Bowes of Bedale, sur- 
geon, She departed this life the 3rd day of April, 1814, 
aged 49 years. Also the remains of Mary Relict of the 

* He was the grandfather of the present Bishop of Lichfield. 



400 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

said John Bowes. She died Novr. 4th, 1814, in the 
84th year of her age."* 

" Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth the daughter of 
the late John and Mary Bowes of Bedale. She departed 
this life June 22d, 1821, aged 56 years. Also of Cecilia 
Bowes, who died Novr. 12th, 1841, aged 73 years." 

" Sacred to the memory of Anne, widow of the late 
Revd. Robt. Wilson, A. B., of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 
and Daughter of the late John and Mary Bowes of Be- 
dale. She departed this life June 3rd, 1845, aged 78." 

' I know that my Redeemer liveth.' — Job 19 ch., 25 vr." 

" Here lies the body of Benjamin Severs, of Masham, 
who departed this life Feb. 8th, 1782, aged sixty-seven 
years. 

" His known character needs no encomiums. 

" Here also lies the remains of Isabel, wife of the above 
named Benjamin Severs, who died after a life spent in 
the practice of every Christian virtue, on the 22nd day 
of September, 1802, aged eighty- four years." 

" Here lies the body of Mary, the wife of William 
Horsman, of Ilton, who departed this life June the 9th, 
Anno Domini 1767, in the thirty-fifth year of her age. 

" Also interred here the body of William Horsman, of 
Ilton, who departed this life July the 26th, 1791, aged 
seventy-six years. 

All you that behold my Stone 
Ah ! think how quickly I was gone. 
Death does not always warning give, 
Therefore be careful how you live." 

* John Bowes and Dorothy his wife, here mentioned, were the grand- 
father and grandmother of the two Misses Wilson, now residing in Park- 
street, Masham ; and the Rev. Robt. Wilson, B.A., and Anne his wife, 
mentioned in the next inscription, were the father and mother of the same 
ladies. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 401 

" [Simon] Bartlett, of Nutwith Cote, who departed 
this life — day of February, a.d. 1680. Also his son 
John Bartlett, who died October ye 18th, 1680." 

" Here lieth the body of John Bartlett,* of Nutwith 
Cote, Esq., who died December the 15th, 1769, aged 
sixty-three years. Also the body of John Ascough, 
Esq., nephew and heir to the said John Bartlett, who 
died February the 4th, 1774, aged thirty years." 

" Erected in affectionate remembrance of Charlotte 
Marian, the beloved Wife of John Fisher the younger, 
of Masham, who departed this life Nov. xxvu., ad. 
m.dccclviii., aged xlii. years, leaving her afflicted hus- 
band and nine children to deplore her loss.f 

" And of her two children, viz : — William Richard and 
John William, who both died in her lifetime, and in 
their infancy. 

" ' Them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.' — 1 Thes. iv., xiv." 

The foregoing are, I believe, all the monumental In- 
scriptions which can now be seen in the interior of Mas- 
ham Church. There have been many others, but they 
have either been destroyed or are now become illegible, 
or have been hid from sight by the present stalls. 

There are in the churchyard great numbers of Grave- 
stones, dating from the year 1691 down to the present 
time — the great majority of which are, in point of de- 
sign and workmanship, really execrable, and but few of 
them are even tolerable, and as such are well calculated 
to give to a stranger a very unfavourable impression as 
to the state of " mason-craft " in the parish. Bad, how- 
ever, as the gravestones themselves are, the inscriptions 
placed upon many of them are still worse, and are equ- 
ally calculated to impress a stranger with the notion, 
that, so far as this parish is concerned, " the schoolmaster 

* He is the person mentioned ante, page 287. 
. t She was the wife of the author of these pages. 

BB 



402 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE, 

is abroad." On one gravestone a very plain old country 
farmer is made to address his " wife and children dear," 
in the following doggerel : 

u Mourn not my wife and children dear, 
I am not dead but sleepeth here, 
My debts is paid, my grave you see, 
Stay but awhile then follow me." 

On another gravestone (which is placed over the grave 
of a well-known old ringer in our Masham belfry) will be 
found the following inscription, which, although better 
than the other in point of composition, is open to severe 
criticism on account of the very flippant way in which 
it treats the very serious subject of Death. 

" Here lies an old ringer, beneath the cold clay ; 
Who has rung many peals both to serious and gay ; 
Thro' grandsires and triples with ease he could range, 
Till Death call'd his Bob, and brought round his last Change." 

And on another gravestone (which is placed over the 
grave of a person who was hanged at York Castle for 
having attempted to murder his wife's father by firing a 
loaded gun at him with the intent to murder him, in 
order that he might succeed his father-in-law in the 
tenancy of his farm) will be found the following Inscrip- 
tion, surmounted by an open book, on the one page of 
which are inscribed the words " Memento mori," and on 
the opposite page, the translation of those words, viz : 
" Eemember Death." 

" My friends read this, and shed no tears, 
I must lay here 'till Christ appears, 
And at his coming hope to have 
A joyful rising from the Grave." 

God forbid that I should seek to deny, even to a mur- 
derer, the hope of a joyful rising from the grave at the 
great day of the Resurrection, knowing as I well do, the 
story of the thief upon the cross, still I must say that, 
under the circumstances, it would have been much bet- 



MASHAM CHURCH. 403 

ter taste to have remained silent upon the subject. It 
must be admitted, however, that it is a too common error 
amongst us thus to express, in strong terms such as these, 
a confidence and assurance of a joyful Resurrection, as our 
own grave-yard, as well as our own experiences, will 
abundantly testify. It is needless, however, to point 
out other instances such as these, especially as the doing 
so might give pain to surviving relatives.* 

Before taking leave of this disagreeable subject, I take 
the liberty of stating that it is time that steps should be 
taken to put a check to the erection of such inappro- 
priate, unsightly, and^ otherwise objectionable monu- 
ments in our churchyard as have hitherto disfigured it. 
There is a remedy for it, and why not apply it? No 
person has any right to erect a monument, or even a 
gravestone, either in the church or churchyard, without 
first obtaining the sanction of the Vicar for so doing ; 
and it would not be an unreasonable request on the 
Vicar's part, for him to require before giving such leave, 
to be furnished with a plan of the proposed monument 
or gravestone, and a copy of the inscription intended to 
be put upon it. The adoption of such a course of pro- 
ceeding, as here indicated, will not only put a stop to the 

* Faulty as many of the inscriptions are in our own churchyard, they are 
not by any means worse than many which are to be found in other neigh- 
bouring churchyards, as the following precious specimen recently put up in 
the churchyard at Tanfield will shew : 

" In memory of Dorothy the eldest daughter of the respectable the late 
Thomas and Dorothy Barugh of Burniston, passed through the gaities of 
youth into the favour of her choice, and became the worthy wife for 15 years 
of earthly eminence, then entered the shade of the bereft widow, the sacred 
relict of the late William Horsman, farmer, of West Tanfield. She followed 
her honoured husband and all their eight children to the tomb, lived a life 
of liberality, pious friendships, and important events, and died in hope of 
Heaven, in the centre of every interest, weeping relatives, and friends, on 
the 2nd day of March, 1853, m 81 years. 

Here the mortal lies, 
Till summon'd to rise 

By tlie Trumpet's awakening call. 
Then will she be found 
With Saints to surround 

The Throne of the great Judge of all." 



404 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

evil, but will in all probability, at no very distant day, 
save the Vicar from having to discharge a most unplea- 
sant duty, in causing an objectionable gravestone to be 
removed from the grave-yard, as has but recently hap- 
pened to another clerg} T man elsewhere. 

In the North side of the churchyard is a gravestone 
bearing the following inscription upon it, viz : 

" Here lie the remains of Julius Caesar Ibbetson,* an 
artist eminent for his taste and skill in painting Rustic 
figures, cattle, and Rural Scenery. He died Octr. 13th, 
1817, aged 58. 

" This humble memorial was erected by the affection 
of his widow. 

" Here also rest the remains of John Batley Ibbetson, 
youngest son of Julius Caesar Ibbetson, who died Novr. 
21st, 1821, aged 6 years." 

And not far distant from the above, and on the same 

* Pilkington in his " Dictionary of Painters," says, that Ibbotson was a 
native of Masham, and that he was liberally educated and studied painting 
for amusement, bat rose to such eminence that his landscapes were eagerly 
sought for by collectors of the first rank. He is, however, in error in saying 
that Ibbotson was a native of Masham, for he was born at Scarborough in 
1759, and was originally a ship-painter, as stated by Rose in his " Biograph- 
ical Dictionary." Ibbotson, having attracted the attention of the late Wil- 
liam Danby, Esq., of Swinton Park, was induced to settle down at Masham, 
where he spent the greatest portion of his life and ended his days, under the 
kind patronage and fostering care of that worthy gentleman. It is quite 
true, as stated by Pilkington, that he rose to great eminence, so much so 
that he was very appropriately called by Mr. West the "Berghem" of 
England, and his Pictures sold at high prices. Ibbotson, however, like too 
many other men of genius, was very improvident, and was, consequently, al- 
ways poor and in pecuniary difficulties. He was a good, sociable, and kind- 
hearted man, and was very much respected. Many very amusing anecdotes 
respecting him have often been told by the old inhabitants of Masham. As 
to his pictures, his cattle are touched with great spirit, and those in which 
they constitute a principal feature, are by far the best of his productions. 
Several specimens of his work may be seen at Swinton Park. He also 
painted some historical pictures, and was the author of a work called " An 
Accidence or Gamut of Oil Painting for beginners," which was published 
in 1805. 



MASH AM CHURCH. 405 

side of the Church, is a plain recumbent gravestone, to 
the memory of a brother artist, on which is the follow- 
ing inscription : 

" George Cuitt,* Artist, died 15th July, 1854, aged 74. 

" His memory lives in his works and in the hearts of 
his friends." 

* Mr. Cuitt was born at Richmond in Yorkshire, in 1779. His father 
was an artist of considerable eminence, who studied at Rome as a portrait 
painter, but on his return to England devoted himself to landscape painting 
— a branch of the profession more congenial to his taste, and which he pur- 
sued for many years with great success, in pourtraying, with admirable 
fidelity, the scenery of his native county. 

Under his father's tuition young Cuitt displayed early talent, and his 
sketches from nature evinced from the first a degree of that originality and 
force which distinguished his later works. In 1804 an opening presented 
itself in Chester, where he took up his abode, and for some years pursued 
his profession as a master with unremitting assiduity and eminent success. 
His talent for imparting instruction to others, and the urbanity of his man- 
ners, rendered him most popular in the sphere he had chosen, and those of 
his pupils yet living remember his kindly tuition with affectionate regard 
and respect. 

Talents, however, such as his, were not to be confined to the drudgery of 
teaching. Etching, and the transfer of his original drawings to the copper- 
plate, became the engrossing subject of his more arduous study, and in the 
picturesque buildings of the quaint old City, which was his residence, he 
found ample material for the exercise of his pencil. His father had brought 
from Rome a very complete collection of Piranesi's magnificent works; 
these he adopted as his models, on which he certainly formed his style, and 
the influence of which — notwithstanding their own inherent originality — 
may be traced in all his future works. He published at intervals several 
numbers of very original and powerful etchings, entitled " Old Buildings 
in Chester." These were succeeded by his " Castles in Wales," in which 
perhaps his admiration for Piranesi led him too far into mannerism, a defect 
which detracts from the merits they otherwise undoubtedly possess. 

In the year 1820 a severe illness obliged him to relinquish his duties as a 
teacher, and having realised a moderate independence, he left Chester, and 
returning to his native county, settled here at Masham, where he spent the 
remainder of his days. The leisure he here enjoyed enabled him to bring 
to full maturity his powers as an artist, and especially as an etcher, and his 
succeeding works accordingly display a power of design and execution far 
surpassing his previous efforts. It was here he produced his " Abbeys of 
Yorkshire," all of which may be esteemed unrivalled as etchings — combining 
such poetry of conception, force of light and shade, and fidelity in the de- 
tails, as render them not less valuable to the archaeologist, than they are 



406 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

And near to the vestry is the vault belonging to the 
Batley family, on which is the following inscription : 

" The earthly remains of Mary the wife of Jeremiah 
Batley of Masham, Esquire, are underneath deposited, 
who died August 8th, 1810, aged 72 years: She was of 
the name and family of Harrison of Sutton-house near 
Seaford in the county of Sussex, and one of the last sur- 
viving relatives of the late Sir William Thomas, of Folk- 
ington House, in the said county, Baronet. 

" In the same grave also rests the body of the said 
Jeremiah Batley, formerly of Bull Close, near Halifax, 
who after a happy union with his said beloved wife of 
nearly fifty years died honoured and respected for his 
talents and virtues, October 29th, 1810, aged eighty-two 
years. 

" Under this tomb lies interred the body of John Lodge 
Batley, of Masham, Esq. (to whose memory a tablet is 
erected in the church). He was the only son of Jeremiah 
Batley, Esq., and Mary his wife, and died May 19th, 
1820, aged fifty- six years." 

And on the west end of the churchyard is the vault 
belonging to the Bollands of Masham upon which are the 
following inscriptions, viz : 

charming to artistic taste. Among these the principal are "Fountains 
Abbey," "Kirkstail," "Rievaulx," in separate numbers of six in each num- 
ber, which were succeeded by " Bolton," " York," " Byland," and "Kirkham." 

Besides these etchings on a large scale, he published a number of most 
exquisite little vignettes of landscape subjects, in which, released from the 
trammels of architectural portraiture, he seemed to enjoy greater freedom, 
and certainly produced works of art which vie with, if they do not surpass, 
his more ambitious efforts. 

After a life passed in the successful pursuit of art — in the cultivation of 
refined tastes — amid a select circle of chosen friends, who alone had power 
at times to draw him from a seclusion, which his natural disposition and the 
domestic happiness he enjoyed in it, rendered, if anything, too engrossing. 
Mr. Cuitt was attacked by a short but severe illness, to which his vital 
powers succumbed. He died on the loth of July, 1854, leaving no family, 
but a widow, who still lives to lament her irreparable loss. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 407 

" Near this spot rest the mortal remains of John 
Bolland, of Masham, gent : also of Margaret his wife, and 
of six of their children. He was for many years a re- 
spected inhabitant of the "town of Masham, and having 
survived his wife eight years he died a.d. 1776, aged 
sixty-one."* 

" Sacred to the memory of Joseph Bolland, f of 
Masham, Esqr., son of John Bolland, gent, and 
Margaret his wife. After having been actively engaged 
in the City of London for more than forty years in the 
anxious occupation of commerce, he retired to his native 

* The Bolland family originally came from out of Craven, and were not 
by any means blessed with an over-abundanee of wealth when they first 
planted themselves in this parish. By plodding industry, however, com- 
bined with a frugal course of living such as is seldom to be met with in these 
days, they not only soon acquired for themselves competent fortunes, but 
established themselves as persons of the first position in the place. John 
Bolland, here mentioned, followed the business of a shopkeeper — embracing, 
as was common at that time, both the grocery and the drapery businesses. 
He left several children, viz. — I. John, who ultimately became an extensive 
and opulent merchant in London, and had a seat in the House of Commons. 
He married and had a son, William, who became a distinguished lawyer, 
and had an extensive and lucrative practice at the Old Bailey in London. 
He was raised to the Judicial Bench as one of the Barons of the Court of 
Exchequer in 1829, when he was knighted ; and also a daughter, Sophia, 
who became the wife of the Right Rev. John Lonsdale, D.D., Lord Bishop 
of Lichfield, as mentioned ante, p. 307. II. Henry, who on the 10th Deer., 
1803, was married at Masham church, to Mrs. Fielder (a daughter of the 
late Thomas Martin dale, Esq., of Masham) who died without issue on the 
28th June, 1805, aged 34 years. He survived her many years, and resided 
at Haregill Lodge. He took a very prominent part in all parish matters, 
and also held a commission as an officer in the old Mashamshire Volunteers. 
He died without issue. III. Roger, who lived many years in Masham after 
he retired from business as a grocer, &c, and died there unmarried. IV. 
Joseph, of whom I speak presently. V. Miss Bolland, who resided at Mas- 
ham, and lived to a great age, but died there unmarried. 

f Joseph Bolland, here mentioned, was the son of John Bolland, men- 
tioned in the previous note. After having retired from business, he took up 
his residence at Masham. On the 17th April, 1823, he was married at 
Masham church to Miss Dyne. He died without issue, and his widow sub- 
sequently married James Taylor Wray, Esq., late of Cliff-lodge near Ley- 
burn, whom she also survived many years. 



408 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

town to pass the remainder of his life, and died sincerely 
lamented on the 6th day of July, 1827, aged sixty- 
eight. 

" The widow of Joseph Bolland caused this tomb to be 
erected as a tribute of affection to a kind husband, of the 
most benevolent disposition and endearing manners." 

The Register Books belonging to Masham Church 
commence in the year 1599, and have been pretty ac- 
curately kept from that period down to the present time. 
The earliest Book is in a very dilapidated state so far as 
regards the binding, but the whole of the leaves appear 
to have been preserved. A large portion of the Register 
was, some years ago, neatly re-copied by the late Rev. 
Joseph Burrill, at the expense of the parish. There are 
not, that I am aware of, any remarkable entries in our 
Parish Register, or at at any rate any which call for any 
special remark, unless the following entries may be con- 
sidered such, viz : 

"Marriages, 1707. Audburgh. William Wray, aged 
eighty-two years, and Margory Geldart of the same, aged 
seventy- two, married by John Read, curate, the 15 th 
day of April." 

"Marriages, 1723. Leonard Pybus, of Ilton, and 
Sythe Horner, of Masham, were married by banns pub- 
lished. The woman, to prevent the creditors coming on 
her new married husband for the debts contracted by 
the former husband had nothing to cover her nakedness 
during the solemnizing of the wedding but her shirt. 
June 24, 1723."* 

* There was formerly a very common, but a very erroneous, notion in this 
as well as in many other parishes throughout England, that if a man mar- 
ried a woman en chemisette, he was not liable for her debts. — See " Book of 
Days," vol. i., p. 259. A similar entry to this is to be found in the Register 
Book of a small village in Wilts, which is as follows : " John Bridmore and 
Anne Sellwood, both of Chiltern All Saints were married October 17th, 
1714. The aforesaid Anne Sellwood was married in her smock, without 



MASH AM CHURCH. 409 

This last entry, which discloses a strange " Shift " to 
get rid of a legal obligation, does not by any means re- 
flect any credit, either upon the parties concerned, or 
the clergyman who was so simple as to deface the Register 
by making such a ridiculous entry in it, to say nothing 
as to his permitting such a disgusting exhibition to be 
enacted in the church. Neither does it say much for 
the intelligence of the parish at this period. We know, 
however, from other sources, that, not only at this time, 
but long afterwards, great ignorance, not unmixed with 
an incredible amount of superstition, very much pre- 
vailed throughout the parish, and that ghosts and hob- 
goblins were as plentiful in it as blackberries, so that 
there was scarcely a nook or corner in the parish which 
was not " haunted " by its own special ghost or boggle. 
The " Marfield Boggle," " Jinny Greensleeves," of High 
Burton, " Sir Roger Beckwith's " ghost, of Aldborough 
Hall, and " The Woman without a head," at the Dykes- 
hill, have indeed only taken their departure from the 
parish within the period of my own recollection. 

The churchwardens' accounts, together with the 
minutes of the procedings of the Four and Twenty exist 
in unbroken succession from a period shortly after the 
Restoration (1661) down to the present time. A book 
of much earlier date than this was also in existence some 
years ago, and was last seen at Swinton Park. That 
book is said to have contained much very valuable and 

any clothes or head-gear on." (See 6th vol. of " Notes and Queries," p. 485.) 
See also the subject discussed in the 3rd vol. of Brand's "Popular Antiquities," 
Ed. Ellis (1842) page 205, where it is said " When a man designs to marry 
a woman who is in debt, if he take her from the hands of the priest clothed 
only in her shift, it is supposed that he will not be liable to her engage- 
ments." It appears that this "vulgar error" was also prevalent at Cotten- 
ham, in Cambridgeshire, at but a very recent date (6 " Notes and Queries," 
p. 561) as well as at Kirton in Lindsey and at Ulcomb in Kent (7 "Notes 
and Queries, p. 17). Indeed I am informed that the same error was re- 
peated in our own parish (but with a greater regard to decency) so late as 
the 10th November, 1810, on the occasion of the marriage of Matthew Carter 
and Hannah Ascough. 



410 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

interesting matter as regards the ancient rights and 
usages of the parish, and especially of the Four and 
Twenty. It appeared by it that formerly the Four and 
Twenty had the sole charge and superintendence of the 
poor of the whole parish, and that the cost of the 
whole of the poor of this wide and extensive parish 
then averaged but £5 a year — a sum which con- 
trasts very strikingly with the present cost of the poor 
in any single township within the parish, and still more 
in the whole eight townships of which this parish con- 
sists.* Townships, however, as we now know them, did 
not exist at that day, but only came into existence after 
the passing of the Act, 13 and 14 Charles II., cap. 12 
(a.d. 1662) and by its operation. Previous therefore to 
the passing of this act, the poor of the whole parish were 
necessarily placed under the care of the churchwardens 
of the parish at large, assisted by Overseers of the Poor, 
appointed also for the parish at large under the 43rd 
Eliz. cap. 2, and it seems by the entries in the missing 
book before alluded to, that the churchwardens and over- 
seers of the poor of the parish, acted under the control 
and superintendence of the Four and Twenty of the 
parish. By the splitting up of the parish into townships 
as before mentioned, not only the churchwardens but the 
Four and Twenty ceased to have any further power over 
the management of the poor in the several townships, 
and as a consequence of it the churchwardens' accounts 

* The following is an account of the cost of the Poor to the Township of 
Masham for one year, ending 28th Sept., 1863. 







£ s. 


d. 


In maintenance 


. . • • 


. . 29 11 


Of 


Out Relief 


. . • . 


..230 2 


1 


Extra Medical Fees 


• . . • 


10 





Vaccination Fees . . 


. . 


. . 12 7 


6 


Registration Fees . . 


. . 


..4 3 


6 


Funeral Fees 


. . 


2 18 


3 


Salaries of Officers an 


d other common charges 
Total cost for one year . 


. . 97 9 







.£377 11 


4-2 



MASHAM CHURCH. 411 

ceased from that time to include any account of the 
monies expended upon the poor. 

The oldest Book now forthcoming, containing the 
churchwardens' accounts, and the minutes of the pro- 
ceedings of the Four and Twenty, being subsequent in 
point of date to the division of the Parish into Town- 
ships, does not throw any light upon the subject of the 
cost, and management of the poor. It does, however, 
contain many curious and interesting entries as regards 
the management and care of the fabric of the church, 
and on other church matters, especially of the several 
steps taken by the Four and Twenty towards putting 
the church into a proper state of repair, and " rebeauti- 
fying " it, after its passing out of the hands of the Puri- 
tans on the restoration of King Charles II. I have 
already in the course of this work given several extracts 
from this Book, hi the way of elucidating the past his- 
tory of the church (which I need not repeat here) ; but 
there are many other entries in it worthy of noting. I 
shall content myself however by merely adding the fol- 
lowing, viz : 

£ s. d. 

" 1683. For charges with two Limners w'ch came to see the church 3 8 
Paid to Mr. Brackenbury for his two time cominge when 

the church should have been butyfied, and charges . . 10 6 
For a Whipe and a Bell for the Saxton . . ..014 

" July the 6th, 1686. Eec'd then of Arthur Marshall and Marmad. Kinge 
of the towne of Massam, and Churchwardens of the Parish, the sum of 
Eight Pounds and four shillings and ninepence, collected from the Briefe 
for the reliefe of the French Protestants. I say rec'd by me, Jo. Weld, 
Vicar of Massam." 

" 1688. P'd for the Saxton new Gowne . . . . ,.170 

"1694. P'd for a new Gown for the Saxtton.. .. ..148 

" 1738. P'd John Wardrop for making Saxton Coat & Britches. . 3 6 
" 1743. Gave to Jno. Wheatley, Lost his substance by Fire ..016 

I gather from this Minute Book that in the year 1727, 
the grave and sapient body, the Four and Twenty of 
Masham, was much agitated by the discussion of the 
very important and stirring subject, whether a new Dial 



412 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

(which they had agreed to purchase at a great cost) 
should be put up in the inside, or the outside of the 
church. Great diversity of opinion appears to have ex- 
isted upon the subject, and accordingly several meetings 
were held upon it, and doubtless much liquor drank by 
them at the expense of the parish, before they were en- 
abled to solve the knotty point. They did, however, 
ultimately come to a decision upon the matter, and they 
recorded it in their Minute Book by the following mi- 
nute, which I here give verbatim et literatim, viz : 

"Aug'st ye 13th, 1727. Mem'd'm. It is this day 
agreed att a Vestrey legelly held, by a majority of Votes, 
that a new Diall shall be putt up on ye insid of ye church 
and not on ye out." 

Thus it will be seen that these wiseacres, forgetful of 
the fact that, for a dial to be of any service, it must be 
placed in a situation where the sun can shine upon its 
gnomon or hand, and thus cast its shadow upon the 
dial-plate, so as to mark the hour of the day, actually de- 
termined by a majority, not merely that the dial should 
be placed in the inside of the church (where the sun 
could not shine upon it) but that it should not be put 
up on the outside of the church, where the sun could 
shine upon it, and thus mark the time of the day. It 
is but charitable to suppose that this Resolution had 
been come to by them at a late hour of one of their sit- 
tings, after their brains had been strangely obfuscated 
by the swallowing of large potations of liquor (which 
they were then in the habit of taking on these occasions) 
and by the fumes of tobacco. 

With these extracts I close my account of the history 
of the Church, and shall now proceed to describe the 
constitution and powers of the ancient body called " The 
Four and Twenty of the Parish of Masham," in whom 
is now vested the government and regulation of the 
Church, so far at least as regards civil or non-ecclesias- 
tical matters. 



MASHAM CHURCH. 413 



THE FOUR AND TWENTY OF THE PARISH 

OF MASHAM. 



This ancient body is a Select Vestry, and bases its 
origin on prescription and immemorial usage. How long 
it has existed, in fact, is not known, but, in presumption 
of law at least, it must have existed from the first year 
of the reign of King Richard I. According to an old 
book belonging to the parish, which contained the ac- 
counts and the minutes of the proceedings of this body 
(but which book is now lost or mislaid) the Four and 
Twenty was not only in existence some time previous to 
the passing of the Act 13 and 14 Charles II., cap. 12, 
a.d. 1662 (by virtue of which act the parish was for the 
first time divided into Townships as they now exist) 
but that it had imposed upon it the sole charge and or- 
dering of the poor throughout the whole parish, as well 
as other duties. It is also incidentally mentioned in an 
entry in the Parish Register, under the date of April, 
1652, hereinbefore referred to (ante, page 334) as then 
in existence, and assuming to itself the power of assign- 
ing the Vicarage of Masham over to the Nonconforming 
minister, Mr. Anthony Prockter, in the place of the 
Rev. Benjamin Browne, the rightful Vicar of the parish 
who was then put out of his living. The next mention 
of this body is in the Report of the case Batt and others, 
Churchwardens of the Parish of Masham, against Wat- 
kinson, which was decided in the year 1690, to which I 
shall presently refer. Before doing so, and in order to 
make the matter more intelligible, I may mention that, 
during the Commonwealth, and the consequent supre- 
macy of the Roundheads or Puritans, the fabric of our 
Church had not only been despoiled, but had been per- 
mitted to run into decay, so much so that at the Restor- 
ation in 1661, it stood in great need of extensive repar- 



4 14 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

ations, and consequently required a large outlay of money 
upon it. Accordingly, we find that in, or previous to, 
the year 1680, a large sum of money was expended up- 
on it by Thomas Batt, John Smorthwaite, and John 
Pickard, the Churchwardens for the Parish of Masham 
for that year. 

These gentlemen, having expended their money upon 
the Church, naturally introduced these expenses in their 
account as churchwardens for the current year of 
their office, viz : the year 1680, and having done so, 
submitted their accounts to, and got them allowed and 
passed by, the Four and Twenty. So far all was well, 
but there happened to exist in the parish a very awk- 
ward customer, in the person of Sir Roger Beckwith, 
Bart., of Aldborough Hall. This gentleman, as we 
have already seen, was brought up by his mother (a 
Wyvill) as a Roman Catholic, but afterwards, on prov- 
ing himself to be a bad Romanist, became a worse Pro- 
testant, and accordingly, like the rest of his family, turned 
Puritan. Being a Puritan, it is needless to say, that he 
had no sympathy with the restorations which were then 
going on in the Church, and accordingly objected to the 
expense of them, and sought to get them disallowed. 
Besides being a Puritan, as I have already stated, he ap- 
pears to have been a person possessed of an ill-balanced 
mind, having one fine morning taken it into his head to 
blow his own brains out with a pistol. Sir Roger, there- 
fore, cited the churchwardens to appear and produce 
their accounts before Henry Watkinson, LL.D., the 
Judge of the Dean and Chapter's Court at York. The 
churchwardens, accordingly, and in obedience to the ci- 
tation, appeared before that learned functionary, but at 
the same time refused to produce their accounts to him, 
alleging as their reason, the existence within the parish 
of the ancient body called the Four and Twenty, and 
that it had been the custom in the parish from time im- 
memorial for the churchwardens to produce their annual 
accounts to, and to get them allowed by, the Four and 



MASHAM CHURCH. 415 

Twenty, and that on such accounts being so passed and 
allowed by that body, they (the churchwardens) were, 
by such custom, exonerated from producing them to any 
other person whatever, and further that they, the church- 
wardens, had already submitted their accounts to the 
Four and Twenty, and had got them allowed by them 
according to the ancient custom, which had thus pre- 
vailed in the parish. The learned Judge of the Eccle- 
siastical Court having over-ruled these objections of the 
churchwardens of Masham, decreed that they (the 
churchwardens) should produce their accounts as re- 
quired by Sir Roger. This decision, although evidently 
erroneous, imposed upon the churchwardens the neces- 
sity of either producing the accounts as decreed, or of 
contesting the matter further, by applying to a Court of 
Common Law by Writ of Prohibition to restrain the 
Judge of the Ecclesiastical Court from proceeding fur- 
ther in the matter. The churchwardens chose the latter 
alternative, and the result will be seen by a perusal of 
the following report of the case as reported in the second 
volume of Lutwiche's Reports, page 1027. 

PROHIBITION 

Batt and others Churchwardens of the Parish 
of Massam v. Watkinson. 
Michaelmas Term, 2 Wm. & Mary, a.d. 
1690. 

havf^pTohibi- Memorandum that on the 28th Nov. in that 

^a^court^S" term, came hither into Court Thomas Batt of 

York - the Parish of Massam in the county of York, 

John Smorthwaite of the same parish, and 

John Pickard of the same parish, late Wardens 

of the Parish Church of Massam aforesaid, by 

Robert Waring their attorney, and gave the 

That the parish court here to understand and be informed 

°anS a Srish an that whereas the said parish of Massam is an 

ancient parish, and that there are within the 



416 



MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



That there have 
been 24 chief 
Parishioners. 



That on the 
death of one of 
them the residue 
have elected an- 
other in his room 



That in the 

Parish there is a 

custom, &c. 



That the said 24 

for the time 

being have made 

Bates, &c. 



said parish and that from time of which the 
memory of man is not to the contrary there 
have been Twenty Four of the more fit and 
able parishioners who are called, and during 
the whole time aforesaid were called the Four 
and Twenty. And thro' all the time afore- 
said as often as any one of the aforesaid 24 
parishioners died* the residue of the afore- 
said 24 parishioners surviving chose, and 
thro' all the time aforesaid were wont to choose 
one other fit and able parishioner of the said 
parish to be one of the aforesaid 24 parish- 
ioners, in room of the like parishioner so 
deceased. And that within the said parish 
there is, and from time of which the memory 
of man is not to the contrary has been a cus- 
tom namely, that the said 24 parishioners 
called the Four and Twenty for the time being 
from the aforesaid time of which the memory 
of man is not to the contrary, were used and 
accustomed as often as it was necessary to 
make rates and to assess reasonable sums of 
money on the parishioners and inhabitants of 
the said parish for the time being, for and to- 
wards the reparation of the nave and aisles of 
the Parish Church of Massam aforesaid, and 
of the bells, and for other things fitting and 
becoming in and about the said church to be 
used and expended, f 



* It has also been the custom as far back as can be traced, that whenever 
any one of the Four and Twenty ceased to reside in the parish, or resigned 
his office as a member of the Four and Twenty, for the residue of the Four 
and Twenty to choose and appoint another person in his place. With this 
correction, the custom here stated has been regularly acted upon and fol- 
lowed up to the present time, as the Minute Book of the Four and Twenty 
(which dates from a period earlier even than this decision) will shew. 

t The Four and Twenty still continue to make rates in the manner and 
for the purposes here stated. 



THE FOUR AND TWENTY. 



417 



That the "War- 
dens of the said 



And that the wardens of the said church 
for the time being, from all time aforesaid, 
have received and have used, and were accus- 
fmSemSiaih^e tomed to receive all dues and sums of money 
&TforburMsln' due or payable for Burials in the body or 
SLSdchurch aisles of the said church,* and if any parish- 
ioner or inhabitant of the said parish refused 
to pay any rate assessed upon him, or any 
sum of money due or payable by him for Bu- 
rials as aforesaid, then the churchwardens for 
the time being, by warrant made by the said 
24 parishioners called the Four and Twenty 
for the time being to such churchwardens on 
that behalf, distrained and were used and ac- 
customed to distrain, f within the parish afore- 
said, the goods and chattels of such parish- 
ioner so refusing for such Eates assessed upon 



* It appears by the churchwardens' accounts that they have been, and are 
still, accustomed to receive a Fee on a Burial in the nave or aisle of the 
church, and that they have given the parish credit for such receipts in 
their annual accounts. My first impression was that the churchwardens 
were not justified in laying claim to such a Fee, as, if due at all, it was due 
to the Vicar, in whom the soil and freehold of the church is vested by law, 
and who alone has the power to give leave to bury in the church. — See 2 
Cro. 367; Id. 237; and Noy. 104. Further reflection, however, upon the 
subject, has led me to modify this opinion. Dr. Burn, in the 1st vol. of his 
" Ecclesiastical Law," p. 187 (1st edit.) says, that the churchwardens by cus- 
tom may have a fee for every burial within the church, by reason that the 
parish is at the charge of repairing the floor, citing Wats., c. 39, as his au- 
thority. If, therefore, the churchwardens lay claim to the fee merely as a 
compensation for the damage done to the floor of the church, and not as a 
consideration for leave to bury in it, I now think that they may be j ustified 
in asserting their claim to it as stated in the text. 

f The oldest inhabitant now living cannot remember a single instance of 
such a distress being ever made, and no trace of such a distress being made 
can be found, either in the Minute Book of the Four and Twenty, or in the 
churchwardens' accounts. On the contrary, it appears by the Act Book of 
the Peculiar Court of Masham, that church rates have, in a great number 
of instances, been sued for in the Ecclesiastical Court, precisely in the same 
way as in other parishes. If, therefore, the right to distrain ever existed, 
as stated in the text, it is now lost by non-user. 

CO 



418 



MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



And that the said 

24 with consent 

of the vicar or 

curate have used 

to repair the 
body and aisles. 



And that the 
churchwardens 
from time im- 
memorial have 
given their ac- 
counts to the 
said 24, &c. 



him or for money due or payable for Burials 
as aforesaid. 

And that the said 24 called the Four and 
Twenty for the time being, from all time 
aforesaid, with consent of the Vicar or Curate 
of the said church for the time being, were 
used and accustomed to repair or cause to be 
repaired,* the body and aisles of the said 
church, and the churchwardens for the time 
being, from all time aforesaid, paid and used 
to pay all sums of money to such reparation 
of the body and aisles of the said church, and 
when the churchwardens for the time being 
from all time aforesaid gave and rendered and 
used to give and render to the said Four and 
Twenty their accompt of all sums of money 
by such churchwardens for the time being 
received and expended in their office, the said 
24 parishioners called the Four and Twenty 
from time to time from all time aforesaid al- 
lowed or disallowed such accompt of the 
churchwardens for the time being according 
as it seemed to them to be expedient. And 
upon such accompt by such churchwardens 
so made, and by the said 24 parishioners al- 
lowed, those wardens were immediately ex- 
onerated and from all time aforesaid were 
wont to be exonerated from making or ren- 
dering any account elsewhere. f And where- 

* The Four and Twenty hare been, and still are, accustomed to order 
and direct the necessary repairs to he done in the nave or aisle of the church 
as stated in the text. They have, also, always claimed the right to make 
alterations in, or additions to, the church, without applying to the Ordinary 
for a Faculty to enable them to do so, and it will be further seen ante, p. 371 f 
that they claim to have, and to exercise, the same rights as the Ordinary in 
other parishes has a right to do. 

f The present practice is according to the custom as here stated, and ap- 
pears to have been constantly acted upon from a period antecedent to the 
date of this decision. 



And that on such 

account the 

churchwardens 

have always been 

discharged from 

any account. 



THE FOUR AND TWENTY. 419 

Sffswe?e e ciSrch- as ^ ne same Thomas Batt, John Smorthwaite, 
wardens for the and John Pickard, were Wardens of the said 

year 1680 and . ^ pii/ri n i 

after that year .Parish Church of Masham for the year 1680, 

they gave their i i • ' i ' ■ i ■ l 

account to the and after that year ended m the said parish 
of Masham gave and rendered then to the 
24 parishioners of Masham aforesaid called 
the Four and Twenty a full and just accompt 
of the money by them received and expended 
in their office aforesaid which accompt the 
said 24 Parishioners then and there allowed. 

That an pieas And whereas all and singular the pleas and 

concerning Pre- <-> , -L 

scriptions and matters touching or concerning any such 

customs ought to .. o . •. . V • i r> 

be determined at prescription or custom within this realm of 

Common law. 1 -»- . _ n 

England specially belong and pertain to our 
Lord the King and our Lady the Queen now 
and to their royal crown, and by the law of 
the land of this realm of England ought to be 
tried and determined in a Court of Record of 
our Lord the King and our Lady the Queen, 
now and (not) before any ecclesiastical or 
spiritual Judges, and always hitherto ought 
St h h 4 D dSwn and used so to be. Yet a certain Henry 
spirituafcourt. 6 Watkinson, LL.D., commissary or auditor of 
causes of the venerable the Dean and Chap- 
ter of the Cathedral and Metropolitan Church 
of St. Peter at York, not being ignorant of 
all and singular the premises, contriving un- 
duly to aggrieve, oppress, and harrass the 
said Thomas Batt, John Smorthwaite, and 
John Pickard, against the custom aforesaid 
and the law of the land of this realm of Eng- 
land, and to draw the judgment of a plea 
which specially belongs and appertains to the 
King and Queen now and to their royal 
crown, to another examination in a Court 
Christian, has caused to be cited the said 
Thomas, John Smorthwaite, and John Pick- 
ard, into a Court Christian before the said 



420 MASHAM AND MASHAMSIIIllE 

Judge, ex-officio suo, on the information of 
Sir Roger Beckwith, Baronet, to appear be- 
fore the said Spiritual Judge, to exhibit and 
count, &c. before pass the accompt of money received and laid 
out in their office of churchwardens aforesaid. 
And the same Spiritual Judge has unjustly 
bound over the said Thomas, John Smorth- 
waite, and John Pickard, to appear in the 
said Court Christian before himself as Judge, 
and to answer to the same spiritual Judge of 
and concerning the premises. And although 
the said Thomas, John Smorthwaite, and 
John Pickard, pleaded all and singular the 
premises aforesaid for their exoneration from 
the said matter imposed on them in the same 
Court Christian before the said Judge, and 
frequently offered to prove them with inevi- 
table truth. Yet the same spiritual Judge 
hath wholly refused to admit or receive their 
allegation or proof, and threatens that the 
said Thomas, John Smorthwaite, and John 
Pickard, shall be condemned of and concern- 
ing the premises in contempt of the said Lord 
the King and Lady the Queen, now and to the 
manifest loss, prejudice, and grievance of the 
same Thomas, John Smorthwaite, and John 
Pickard. And this the same Thomas, John 
Smorthwaite, and John Pickard, are ready to 
verify. Wherefore the same Thomas, John 
Smorthwaite, and John Pickard imploring 
the aid and bounty of our Lord the King and 
our Lady the Queen, pray for a Prohibition 
to be directed to the aforesaid spiritual Judge 
of the said Court Christian or to any other 
competent Judge whatsoever, in this behalf 
to prohibit him from holding any further 
plea before him touching the premises in any 
way, &c. 



THE FOUR AND TWENTY. : 421 

On great debate of this case at several 
times, the Court was of opinion that the 
aforesaid custom was good and reasonable, 
and Prohibition was absolutely granted." 

It will be seen by the foregoing report that the church- 
wardens were successful in their litigation, and that the 
Judge of the Ecclesiastical Court was prohibited from 
proceeding further in compelling them to account before 
him. The effect of this decision was to establish the 
authority of the Four and Twenty as a Select Yestry by 
prescription or immemorial usage, for it will be seen 
that the existence of the immemorial usage, as alleged, 
was not even attempted to be denied, and the Court, as- 
suming that the usage as alleged had so existed from 
time immemorial, decided that such a custom as was 
here set up by the churchwardens, was a good and rea- 
sonable custom, and therefore gave effect to it by grant- 
ing the Prohibition as prayed. Thus it will be seen 
that there can be no question as to the legality or au- 
thority of the body called the Four and Twenty, as a 
select vestry by immemorial usage. 

The class of persons qualified to be members of the 
Four and Twenty, are " the more fit and able parish- 
ioners," that is, persons resident in the parish, and they 
are required to be elected, whenever vacancies occur in 
the body, by the remainder of the existing members 
then constituting it ; and when so elected they remain 
members of the body for life, or until they quit the 
parish, or sign. 

The powers of the Four and Twenty embrace all the 
powers and authorities which can be, and commonly are, 
exercised by ordinary Parish Vestries, such as exist in 
ordinary parishes, and also some other powers and au- 
thorities which are not possessed by such last mentioned 
Vestries. Amongst these powers and authorities may 
be mentioned, the right to fill up vacancies in their own 
body as often as vacancies may occur — their power to 



422 MASHAM AND MASHAMSH1RE. 

make rates for the reparation of the body and aisles of 
the church, and for other things fitting and becoming in 
and about the Church to be used and expended — to re- 
pair, or cause to be repaired, with the consent of the 
Vicar or Curate, the body and aisles of the Church, the 
expenses of which are to be paid by the churchwardens 
— to receive the accounts of the churchwardens of all 
sums of money by them received and expended in their 
office, and to allow or disallow such accounts according 
as it should seem to them expedient, and to exonerate 
the churchwardens from making and rendering any ac- 
count elsewhere. Besides possessing the powers above 
alluded to, they annually appoint three out of the four 
churchwardens (the Vicar appointing the fourth church- 
warden) — they assume to themselves the entire direction, 
superintendence, and control, over the fabric of the 
Church, and of the churchwardens in the discharge of 
the duties of their office — and they also claim the right 
by immemorial usage, " of ordering with regard to the 
erecting of pews, and of authorising anything to be done 
relative to such matters, in like manner as in other par- 
ishes the Bishop or Ordinary has a right to do." — [See 
entry in Minute Book of the Four and Twenty under 
date of 1765]. — Also the right to erect pews or seats in 
the Church, and of appropriating the said seats to par- 
ticular persons or families, in like manner as the Ordi- 
nary in other parishes has a right to do. — [See entry in 
the Minute Book of the Four and Twenty, under date 
of Dec. 1st, 1832]. — Also the right from time to time 
to appoint to the office of Sexton, and to remove him 
from his office when and as they shall think fit — and 
lastly, they claim to represent in all Parish affairs the 
whole body of the Parish, and to have the direction and 
ordering of all matters belonging to the Church, and as 
oft as any part of the Church, or any utensils belonging 
to it are wanted either repairing or ornamenting, or any 
material thing is wanted to be done, to give orders con- 
cerning such matters from time to time as they may 



THE FOUR AND TWENTY. 423 

think proper, and that such orders should be executed 
by the churchwardens. — [See a statement to this effect 
in the Copy Case submitted by the Four and Twenty to 
Mr. Johnson, Recorder of York, for his opinion* thereon 
entered in the Minute Book of the Four and Twenty, 
under date of 21 Octr., 1765.] 

Such is the constitution of the body called the Four 
and Twenty, and the powers exercised or claimed by 
the members of that body. I have already had occasion 
in the course of this work, to allude to these powers, 
and to discuss the question whether they could success- 
fully maintain them if contested : it is needless therefore 
repeating them here. 

* Mr. Peter Johnson in his opinion upon the case here alluded to, says, 
" I am of opinion that the Select Vestry of Four and Twenty inhabitants 
within the Parish of Mashani, being grounded upon custom, and that custom 
having been held good and reasonable in the case of Batt v. "Watkinson, re- 
ferred to in the case, the Four and Twenty have the same power within the 
Parish, to judge and order what they think necessary or proper to be done 
in the Church as the Parishioners at large have in any Parish where there 
is not a Select Vestry; and as the acts and orders of the majority of the 
parishioners at large, duly assembled upon the usual public notice given in 
the Church, will bind the Parish in the latter case, so the majority of the 
Select Vestry, duly assembled upon the like notice, -will equally bind in the 
former." 



424 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



REMAINS OF ANTIQUITY FOUND WITHIN 
THE PARISH. 



It is a matter much to be regretted that the remains of 
antiquity, which have been from time to time discovered 
within the Parish, have been (with but few exceptions) 
so little cared for, and so ill preserved, as they have 
hitherto been. Considering that, many years ago, the 
late William Danby, Esq., formed a Museum at Swinton 
Park, one would have expected that such articles as 
were found within the Parish would have found their 
way into that valuable depository, and have been thus 
preserved for the benefit and instruction of the inhabi- 
tants, but this, unfortunately, has not been the case ; and 
the same observation will apply, but with still greater 
force, to the Museum which was established some six 
years ago in connection with the " Riddell Memorial Me- 
chanics' Institute," at Masham, for I believe that not a 
single article of interest connected with the Parish has 
as yet been added to that Museum, although some of the 
gentlemen having the charge of it and its interests, have 
found means of obtaining and adding to their own pri- 
vate collections, many articles which would have been 
valuable acquisitions to that Museum — a selfishness 
which cannot be too much condemned, since it is well 
known that the small private collections of individuals 
are but of very little, if any, value to the public at large, 
besides having the disadvantage of being always liable 
to be dispersed on the death, or the change of residence 
or alteration in the circumstances, of the owners of such 
small private collections — a result which cannot occur in 
the case of a public museum like that at the Mechanics , 
Institute. 

Many articles possessing antiquarian interest have 
been lost to the Parish, owing no doubt to the finders of 



TO FACE PAGE *25 




SEEP. 429. 




bronze patella found at round -hill, near 
masham; and a golden armlet, dug 
up un swinton dark 





GARGOYLE 
FOUND IN MAjSHAM CHURCH. 



SMALL BAND-BELL 
FOOT!) IN MASBAM CBDUCE 



ANTIQUITIES. 425 

them not knowing the value of them, whilst others have 
been lost to it by their getting into the hands of small pri- 
vate collectors, and being afterwards dispersed or dis- 
posed of, in the manner above mentioned. I trust, how- 
ever, for the credit of the parish, and especially of those 
having the management and direction of the museum 
connected with the Mechanics' Institute, that for the fu- 
ture a different course of conduct will be pursued. 

Having made these few prefatory remarks with a view 
to secure the future preservation of articles of local an- 
tiquarian interest which may hereafter be found, I now 
proceed to notice a few such articles as have been found 
and preserved. 

The first article which I shall mention is a very re- 
markable gold ornament, supposed to be connected with 
the early British, or Druidical, era of this country, which 
was discovered in the year 1815, in forming the sunk 
fence which is opposite to the Porter's Lodge, or the en- 
trance to Swinton Park, and within two feet of the sur- 
face of the ground. In the Archaeological Institute, 
York, 1846, page 5, it is thus described: "It bears 
much resemblance to one type of the Irish 4 Ring money ' 
as designated by Sir Wm. Betham (Transactions of the 
Royal Irish Academy, vol. xvii.) By some antiquaries 
these singular objects have been termed Armlets : it is 
more probable that they might serve as fastenings of the 
mantle or other garment, or, possibly, they were orna- 
ments of a sacred or mystic nature. The weight of this 
specimen is 5 ounces 3 drachms and 10 grains. A gold 
ornament of analagous description, was found in Scotland 
in 1731, deposited in an urn (Archseologia, vol. ii., pi. 
iii., Reliq. Galaenae, p. 280). Another was found in 
1773, near the Lizard Point, Cornwall; and two (of 
which one weighed 9 ounces and 10 pennyweights) were 
discovered near Ripon in 1780, as stated in Gough's 
Additions to Camden, vol. iv., p. 231. No example of 
the precise type found at Swinton Park has been noticed 
as discovered in England." 



4:26 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

The discovery of this gold ornament is also referred 
to in the 6th vol. of the Archaeological Journal, page 61, 
in an article by Albert Way, entitled, " On ancient arm- 
illse of gold recently found," in which it was stated that 
it was most kindly communicated from the Swinton Park 
Museum by desire of Mrs. Danby Harcourt through Mr. 
Charles Tucker. I regret, however, to add that even 
this interesting relic is not now forthcoming, but 
is supposed to have been stolen from the museum at 
Swinton Park. 

I next proceed to notice two Sepulchral Stone Cists 
which were discovered in the years 1835, and 1836, by 
some workmen employed in obtaining gravel at the 
gravelpit in the Marfield, near to Mr. Kendall's 
waterworks, and the land called "The Nunneries" or 
" Nunners' fields " ; and also some vessels of Bronze 
found in 1845, at Round-hill, and supposed to belong to 
the Roman period of the history of the parish. They 
are thus described by Charles Tucker, Esq. (a gentle- 
man well known not only to the people of Masham, on 
account of his connection with the Swinton Park estates, 
but also to the antiquarian world by his valuable contri- 
butions to the science of Archaeology) in the 6th vol. of 
the Archaeological Journal, page 41 : u At the monthly 
meeting of the Institute in December last [1848] there 
were exhibited drawings of two remarkable Stone Cists 
or Cofiins, of considerable antiquity, now preserved in 
the pleasure-grounds at Swinton Park, Yorkshire. No. 
1, was discovered in the year 1835, by workmen who 
were digging gravel from an extensive ridge or hill, of 
that material, lying about 200 yards distant from the 
right bank of the river Eure, in the parish of Masham, 
Yorkshire. The ridge is raised 10 or 12 feet above the 
level of the adjacent soil in an extensive open field called 
Mar or Mere-field, and is now grown over with brush- 
wood, forming a kind of shaw. There is no historical 
tradition connected with the actual spot, but about 2 
miles lower down the stream is a rocky ford known as 



PAGE 426. 






TWO SEPULCHRAL STOHE CISTS, EOFNL IN" THE MAR-FIELD BEAR 
MASSATsU A.D. 1835, A"ND A.D. 1836. 



ANTIQUITIES. 427 

4 Mowbray- Wath,' and near to this it is said a great 
battle was fought with the Danes. The stone of this 
Cist is not that of the neighbouring Quarries of Elling- 
ton-Firth, but apparently the coarse grained sandstone 
of Agra-moor and Colsterdale, about 7 miles distant to 
the westward. The lid was unfortunately split across 
the centre by the workpeople before they were aware of 
their nature, and it was placed about 2 feet from the 
surface of the ridge, and contained the greater portion 
of the bones of a human skeleton, but no remains of any 
other kind : many of the bones crumbled to dust on ex- 
posure to the atmosphere; others, with the skull, were 
less decayed, and were stated by a surgeon [Dr. Dal- 
gliesh of Masham] who examined them, to be apparently 
those of a female. The workmanship of the Cist is 
rude, and totally devoid of any kind of ornament or in- 
scription. The measurements are as follows : length at 
the bottom or ground line, 6 feet 3 inches; length at 
junction with the lid, 6 feet 9 inches ; width at the bot- 
tom, 2 feet; width at junction with lid, 2 feet 6 inches; 
thickness of lid at centre, 1 foot 4 inches; thickness of 
lid at the edge, 10J inches; thickness of sides of Cist, 

6 inches; height of Cist from ground (without lid) 2 
feet; depth of cavity, 1 foot 6 inches. 

"In the following year (1836) the CistlSTo. 2 was dis- 
covered by the labourers whilst pursuing their occupa- 
tion of digging gravel in the same ridge, and a few yards 
further northward than the position of the former. It 
is formed of the same kind of stone, but is more rude in 
shape and workmanship, and was entirely empty. The 
dimensions nearly correspond with those of the Cist al- 
ready described. Length, 6 feet 6 inches; width, 2 feet 
3 inches ; height, 1 foot 8 inches ; thickness of the lid, 

7 inches. The lid is a flat stone with a chamfered edge, 
and it projects slightly over the sides of the Cist, and 
rather more over the ends. For their better care and 
preservation both Cists were removed to [and are still 
to be seen at] the Pleasure Grounds at Swinton Park. 



428 MASHAM AMD MASHAMSHIRE. 

Similar stone Cists, some of which are ornamented or 
bear inscriptions, discovered in the neighbourhood of 
York, are preserved in the Museum of the Philosophical 
Society in that City. 

" The discovery of the second Coffin in the same ridge 
or hill of gravel, leads rather to the supposition that — 
instead of its having been a bank of gravel formed by 
the subsidence of the stream, as had been generally sup- 
posed — the mound, although in the lapse of ages it has 
lost its shape, may have been originally raised by man 
as a tumulus, in which to entomb the Coffins — the adja- 
cent bed of the river affording an abundant supply of 
materials. 

" It is evident from the shape of the cavities in these 
Cists, and from the bones found in one of them, that 
cremation of the dead was not the practice of the people 
who formed these interesting relics; they seem, how- 
ever, to belong to a period about coeval with the Roman 
occupation of Britain,* or immediately subsequent to 
the departure of that people. The rudeness of forma- 
tion clearly proves that they do not belong to a time 
when it was the practice to ornament with sculpture the 
depositories of the dead. 



* The Rev. C. Wellbeloved, in his " Eboracum, or York under the Ro- 
mans," says, " In the disposal of the dead, two methods have most generally 
prevailed : I. The burial of the entire body : II. The burial of the ashes 

after the body has been burned The Romans derived the greater part 

of their funeral rites from the Greeks, so that, generally speaking, what is 
said of one people will be applicable to the other also. Interment, or the 
depositing of the whole body in the ground, was the method of disposing of 
the dead first adopted by the Romans ; and it was also the last. Cremation, 
or burning, w r as intermediate." Mr. Wright too, in his " The Celt, the 
Roman, and the Saxon," says " We learn from the ancient writers that it 
was the earlier practice of the Romans to bury the body of their dead en- 
tire, and that it was not till the time of the dictator Sylla, that the custom 
of burning the dead was established. From this time either usage continued 
to be adopted, at the will of the individual, or of the family of the deceased ; 
but in the second century of the Christian era the older practice is said to 
have become again more fashionable than that of cremation, and from this 
time it gradually superseded it." Mr. Wellbeloved also says, " The road 



ANTIQUITIES. 429 

" An ancient road which enters the County of York at 
Piers-bridge over the Tees, has been distinctly traced to 
Cataractonium [now Thornborough] near the present 
Catterick-bridge, and from thence to Kilgram-bridge 
over the Eure or Yore, and from whence to a place 
called ' Roman-ridge,' near Ripon, the line passes by 
the boundaries of the Mar or Mere-field before-men- 
tioned, to the westward of the town of Masham, and to 
the eastward of the small Oval Camp in Swinton Park, 
and of the large Square Camp adjoining Nut with Com- 
mon. From the Roman-ridge the line becomes less 
distinct, but seems to take the direction of the Camp on 
the How-hill, about 4 miles from Ripon and 9 from 
Isurium [Aldborough near Boroughbridge], and after 
crossing the river Nidd to the westward of Ripley, joins 
the Watling-street about midway in its course from Isu- 
rium to Olicana [Ilkley], situate on the Wharfe. 

" It may be observed that British remains have been 
discovered at Swinton Park : a representation of a very 
remarkable gold ornament there found is given in this 
number of the Journal, plate 60. Roman Vessels of 
bronze were found in 1845, at Round-hill in Arnagill, 
about 6 miles to the westward, immediately under the 
great range of the western high moors. Two of these 
vessels, patellae of bronze, from the Swinton Museum, 
were exhibited at York in the Museum formed during 
the meeting of the Institute in that City, and we are 
now enabled to give representations of them. The metal 
is of a superior kind, and the workmanship sharp and 
good. The large number of similar patellae found at 
Pompeii, and now in the Museo Borbonica at Naples, 
favours the opinion that they were probably used for 



side was the place most commonly appropriated to the burial of the dead ; 
so that they who passed by might be reminded of their own mortality, and 
the memory of the dead might be continually revived, and the longer pre- 
served." This practice of burying the dead on the road side will account 
for the place where these two stone Cists were found, which was on the side 
of the Roman road which formerly passed through the Marfield, as stated 
in the text. 



430 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

culinary purposes, rather than sacrificial, as had been 
suggested from the fact of a thyrsus being engraved on 
the handle of the larger vessel, as shown by the accom- 
panying representations of these ancient vessels." 

Besides the two sepulchral stone Cists before described, 
there was another stone Cist of a similar description dis- 
covered many years ago in digging on Cockpit-hill, or 
the Little Market-place, in Masham. Unfortunately, 
however, it was reburied somewhere near to the spot in 
which it was originally found, and no description of it is 
preserved except by tradition. 

There was also, some years ago, preserved in the Mu- 
seum at Swinton Park, a Roman Battle-axe, which was 
said to have been found within this parish, but this also 
has disappeared. It is said that a late gamekeeper upon 
the estate, who had no reverence for ancient relics, but 
possessed an utilitarian turn of mind, conceiving that 
this battle-axe would, by the aid of a country blacksmith, 
make him an excellent instrument for the destruction of 
vermin, appropriated it, and had it converted accord- 
ingly. 

Roman Tiles, and Stones of Roman workmanship, 
have also at different times been discovered in the parish, 
but have not been preserved. 

Having already (ante, pages 39 to 42) referred to the 
Roman Roads which intersect the parish, and the Roman 
Camps which are to be found in it, I need not further 
allude to them here. 

The next species of remains of antiquity found in the 
parish, which I have to notice, are those which belong to 
the Saxon era. The most important of these is the 
frustrum of the Church Cross now standing in the 
churchyard, and used as the pedestal to the dial, as al- 
ready mentioned (ante, page 310, where an engraving of 
it will be found) ; and hardly less important are two sep- 
ulchral crosses of Saxon workmanship, which were 
brought to light in the course of the restorations of the 
Church, drawings of which are here given. 



PAGE 4-30. 




SEPULCHRAL CROSSES FOUND IF MAEHAM CHURCH, 
THE LOWER ONE BEING OF SAXON WORKMANSHIP 



ANTIQUITIES. 431 

After the Saxon remains of antiquity, just mentioned, 
the Norman Tower, and western Doorway, of the Church 
next claim our attention, as remarkably characteristic of 
the style of architecture which prevailed immediately 
after the Norman Conquest. A drawing of the Norman 
Doorway just mentioned is here presented. 

It now only remains for me to notice several sepulchral 
crosses belonging to the mediaeval era of the history of 
this country, which were brought to light during the 
late restorations of the Church. They are of different 
dates, and vary considerably in design, as will be seen 
on reference to the several drawings of them which are 
here given. 



432 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



CHARITIES. 



The Grammar and Free Schools. — These schools 
were originally founded out of the proceeds of the fol- 
lowing bequests for educational purposes within the 
parish, viz : £100 bequeathed by the will of Isabel Beck- 
with of Well, spinster, dated the 14th June, 1735, to be 
laid out in the purchase of lands, for the benefit of a 
Free School at Masham, for teaching five such poor boys 
and finding them books, in such manner as the Four and 
Twenty of the Parish of Masham should from time to 
time think proper, always preferring such boy and boys 
as should be of the name of Beckwith. £520 bequeathed 
by the will and codicil of Oswald Coates of Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne (but previously of High Burton near Mas- 
ham) officer of excise, dated the 25th Feb., 1748, to 
trustees, towards the founding and supporting of a Free 
or Charity School, in the town of Masham, for the in- 
struction of twenty boys and ten girls, the children of 
the poorest inhabitants within the vicarage of Masham, 
in reading English, and in writing and arithmetic. As 
to £20 of this sum, the interest thereof was to be ap- 
plied in the finding and providing a certain number of 
Bibles in each year, with the New Testament and Com- 
mon Prayer therein, one of which to be given to every 
poor child upon his or her removal from or leaving the 
school. £200 bequeathed by the will of Ann Danby, 
spinster, dated the 23rd June, 1755, to the Charity 
School for poor children in the town of Masham; and 
£225 given in money by William Danby, Esq., in 1760, 
together with a yearly Rent-charge of £10 issuing out 
of lands at Hutton Long Villiers, and a school-house and 
cottage built by him for the benefit of the school. With 
these sums of money were purchased certain Rent- 
charges, amounting to £18 2s. 4d. yearly, issuing out 



CHARITIES. 433 

of lands in Swaledale, and also a cottage and garth at 
Ravensworth; also a Rent-charge of £3 10s. yearly, 
issuing out of lands in Grewelthorpe ; also certain lands 
at Galphay. The property thus acquired was vested in 
trustees (all of whom are long since dead) for the bene- 
fit of the charity, and the trusts of such charity were 
declared by an indenture of bargain and sale (enrolled 
in Chancery) dated the 26th day of June, 1760, made 
between William Danby, Esq., of Swinton, John Hard- 
castle, Esq., of Bedale, and the Rev. Edward Moises, of 
Kirkby Malzeard (Vicar of Masham) and William 
Hardcastle, of Masham, gentleman, of the one part, and 
John Wrather of Masham, gentleman, of the other part. 
By this deed, it was declared that the establishment 
should consist of a head master who should take on him 
the instruction of the children of the town and Parish 
of Masham, in such learning as might be wanted and 
desired, but at the expense of their parents ; and that he 
should also have the overseeing of the children to be 
taught free, as directed by the foregoing wills : and 
also of an assistant master to give gratuitous instruction 
to the thirty-five poor children of Masham required by 
the wills of Oswald Coates, and Isabel Beckwith, to be 
taught free. 

It appears by the report of the Commissioners ap- 
pointed to enquire into the Public Charities (dated 30th 
June, 1821) that the Rev. Joseph Burrill, the head 
master of the school, was then in the receipt of £51 14s. 
per annum (less £2 5s., for repairs and bibles) of this 
endowment over and above what he received from the 
parents of the children, whilst Mr. Matthew Metcalf, the 
master of the Charity School, was in the receipt of 
£24 12s. 4d. per annum, for the teaching of the thirty- 
five children required to be taught gratuitously. 

The head master, and the master of the Charity 
School, continued in the receipt of the sums above men- 
tioned from this time down to the time when the Rev. 
George Waddington became Vicar of Masham, when 

DD 



434 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIKE 

that gentleman, upon investigating the matter, consider- 
ably reduced the amount of the head master's share of 
the endowment, and increased that of the master of the 
Charity School, by the amount thus taken away from the 
head master. 

The Charity School was afterwards turned into a 
National School, and was placed under the care of a cer- 
tificated teacher, and the limit as to the number of scho- 
lars to be taught in it gratuitously was taken away. 

By a scheme — which was approved of and allowed by 
the Court of Chancery, on the 10th December 1856 — the 
management and government of both the Grammar 
School, and the Free (or Charity) School, and the ap- 
pointment and dismissal of the schoolmasters thereof re- 
spectively, was committed to a body of trustees, consisting 
of the Vicar of Masham, the Lord or Lady of the Manor 
of Masham, and the four churchwardens of the Parish of 
Masham for the time being, together with Timothy Hut- 
ton, Esq., of Clifton Castle (since deceased) ; John 
Timothy D'Arcy Hutton, Esq., of Aldborough Hall ; 
William Margaret Dalgleish, M D. (who has since 
resigned, and is no longer a trustee) ; and myself. 

By the scheme before alluded to, the annual rents of 
the land at Galphay, Laverton, and Fearby-moor,* the 
cottage in Masham, and the annual rent-charge of £10. 
issuing out of lands at Hutton Long Villiers, belonging 
to the charity, are directed to be applied to the use of the 
head master of the Grammar School, after deducting 
thereout, annually, the sum of 30s. towards a fund for 
keeping the buildings upon the Charity property belong- 
ing to both the schools in repair, and the further sum of 
1 5s. for the purchase of bibles for the use of the scho- 
lars belonging to the Free School. And the annual 
rents of the cottage and garth at Ravensworth, and the 
annual rent-charges issuing out of lands in Swaledale, 

* The land at Fearby-moor was allotted to the school by the Inclosure 
Commissioners, on the inclosure of Fearbv-moor. 



CHARITIES. 435 

and Grewelthorpe respectively, as also the dividends pay- 
able on the £232 2s. 6d.,* then, and now invested in 
the 3 j per cent, consols, also belonging to the Charity, 
should be applied to the use of the master of the Free 
School. 

The Grammar School is declared by the above 
scheme " to be open to the children of all resident inhabi- 
tants of the Parish of Masham," and that the instructions 
to be afforded hi it, are, to be in the principles of the 
Christian religion, the Greek, Latin, and French lan- 
guages, mathematics, algebra, arithmetic, general English 
literature and composition, sacred and profane history, 
geography, reading, writing, and also such other lan- 
guages, arts, and sciences, as to the trustees may seem 
expedient, and so as to give the boys a sound, moral, 
religious, and liberal education — and the head master is 
not to charge for head-money for such instruction, any 
greater sum, or sums, than shall be allowed of, and ap- 
proved by, the trustees. f 

The Fkee School is also declared by the above 
scheme, to be " open to the children of all resident in- 
habitants of the Parish of Masham, between the ages of 
7 and 16 years, who shall be able to read words of one 
syllable, and shall apply to the master of the said Free 
School for admission according to the order of such ap- 
plications" — preference, however, is to be given as to 
five of such applicants to children of the name of " Beck- 
with". — And that the secular instruction at the Free 



* See ante page 182, as to the manner in -which the Free School became 
possessed of this sum. 

f It will be observed that the head master of the Grammar School is not 
required, in return for his endowment, to teach any children gratuitously ; 
the endowment is given to him, as expressed in the Deed of Endowment of 
1760, " as an encouragement for a person of learning, and other endowments, 
to settle at Masham, and to take on him the instruction of the children of 
the town and parish of Masham, in such learning as might be wanted and 
desired." 



436 MASHAM AMD MASHAMSHIRE. 

School is to comprise reading, writing, spelling, Eng- 
lish grammar, arithmetic, and such subjects of general 
and useful knowledge as may from time to time be 
directed, or authorized, by the Committee of Council on 
Education. The religious instruction is to comprise the 
bible, and bible history, and the Church catechism, and 
is to be consonant with the principles and doctrines of 
the Church of England — and the head-money to be paid 
by each scholar attending the Free School is not to ex- 
ceed two-pence, weekly. 

The School House now used for the Grammar 
School was built on its first foundation by William 
Danby, Esq., of Swinton Park, but was afterwards 
much improved by the late Admiral 0. Y. Harcourt. 

The School House belonging to the Free School, 
was also originally built by Willliam Danby, Esq., but 
was afterwards pulled down, and re-built, by Mrs. Danby 
Harcourt in 1834 (then the widow of the late William 
Danby, Esq.) and has since been considerably enlarged, 
and improved, at her expense. — Additional rooms have 
also been lately built to it, in order to accommodate a 
school for girls, in which they are taught needlework, 
and also the scholars belonging to the Infant school re- 
cently established in connection with the Free School. 

The total income of the head master of the Grammar 
School as derived from the rents, &c, of the property 
with which his school is endowed, is £44 14s. a year — 
And that of the master of the Free School, as derived 
from the rents, &c, of the property with which his school 
is endowed, is £36 5s. 8d., a year. This last mentioned 
sum is, however, considerably increased by the children's 
pence, the annual subscriptions of the trustees and sub- 
scribers to the Free School, and by the grants annually 
made to it by the Committee of Council on Education. 

The Kellbank School was founded and endowed 
somewhere between the years 1820, and 1822, under the 
circumstances and in the manner mentioned in the reci- 



CHAKITIES. 437 

tals of the Deed of Endowment presently mentioned. — 
By an Indenture of bargain and sale, (enrolled in Chan- 
cery) bearing date the 19th Oct. 1822, made between 
William Danby, Esq., of Swinton Park, of the one part, 
and the Rev. Joseph Burrill, therein described, as " re- 
sident minister of the Parish church of Masham" of the 
other part ; after reciting, that William Heslington, * of 
Masham, gentleman, being desirous to make some provi- 
sion for the instruction of the children of the poor inhabi- 
tants of the Parish of Masham, did in or about the year 
1820, advance and pay to the said William Danby the 
sum of £450, which he requested and directed the said 
William Danby to lay out in such manner as he thought 
fit, in or towards the erection of a school-house, and 
other buildings, upon lands belonging to the said Wil- 
liam Danby, situate at Healey; and reciting, that the 
said William Danby had in compliance with such request 
laid out and expended the said sum of £450, together with 
other monies of his own, in erecting a school-house, 
dwelling-house, stable, cow-house, and other buildings, 
upon the lands of him, the said William Danby, situate 
at Healey : and reciting, that the said William Danby, 
being desirous to promote and encourage the design of 
the said William Heslington, had determined to found, 

* Mr. Heslington was in early life a shopkeeper in Masham, carrying on 
the business of a grocer, draper, spirit merchant, and general dealer ; — he 
also speculated heavily in the public funds, by which he acquired a consider- 
able fortune, with which he retired into private life, being succeeded in his 
business by the late Thomas Durham (the maternal grandfather of Mr. 
James Carter, who now carries on business upon the same premises). The 
reason which prompted Mr. Heslington to this act of liberality, as expressed 
by himself, was the pain which he felt on account of the great want of edu- 
cation which then prevailed throughout the parish, and even amongst such 
as were then termed respectable farmers, few of whom could then write. He 
married, first, Mary, the daughter of the late Mr. John Wrather, of Masham. 
— She having died on the 3rd March, 1807, aged 83, he married, secondly, 
on the 2nd April, 1810, Edith, the daughter of the late John Holdsworth, of 
Kexmoor, who died on the 16th April, 1818, aged 64 years. He had no is- 
sue by either of his two wives, and died at Masham, on the 16th Oct. 1825, 
aged 87 years. 



438 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

and for ever establish, a school at Healey, for educating, 
and instructing, the children of the poor inhabitants of 
the Parish of Masham, in the manner thereinafter men- 
tioned, and, for that purpose, to convey the said school- 
house, dwelling-house, stable, cow-house, and other 
buildings, and also the several closes or parcels of ground, 
and hereditaments, thereinafter described, with their 
appurtenances, unto and to the use of the said Joseph 
Burrill, his heirs and assigns, upon the trusts thereinafter 
expressed : It is witnessed, that in pursuance of such 
determination, he the said William Danby did grant, 
bargain, sell, and confirm, unto the said Joseph Burrill, 
his heirs and assigns, all that the said school-house, and 
all that the said dwelling-house, with the stable, cow- 
house, and other buildings, then lately erected and 
built by the said William Danby, as thereinbefore men- 
tioned, and also the yard and garden adjoining, or be- 
longing to the said school-house, dwelling-house, and 
premises thereinbefore described; and also all those 
three closes or parcels of arable, meadow, or pasture 
ground, lying within a ring fence about the said school- 
house and dwelling-house, containing by admeasurement 
(with the site of the said buildings) 11a. 2r. 18p., or 
thereabouts, were the same more or less, bounded on the 
north and east sides thereof by high roads, and on the 
south, and west, sides thereof, by other lands of the said 
William Danby, and all which said school-house, dwelling- 
house, and premises, are situate, lying, and being, in the 
township of Healey and Parish of Masham; together 
with the appurtenances. To hold the same unto the said 
Joseph Burrill, his heirs and assigns, for ever ; upon the 
trusts thereinafter declared concerning the same, that 
was to say, upon trust, that he, the said Joseph 
Burrill, his heirs and assigns, should at all times 
thereafter, permit and suffer the said school-house to be 
used and employed by the schoolmaster for the time 
being of the said school, for the teaching of the scholars 
therein ; and should permit and suffer the schoolmaster 



CHARITIES. 439 

for the time being of the said school, to inhabit, hold, oc- 
cupy, and enjoy, the said dwelling-house, stable, cow-house, 
buildings, yards, garden, closes, or parcel of ground, and 
other hereditaments thereinbefore described, and to take 
the profits thereof for his own use and benefit, the said 
master for the time being keeping, and maintaining, the 
said school-house, dwelling-house, and other buildings, 
in good and sufficient order and repair, at his own ex- 
pense, and also managing the said closes or parcel of 
ground in a proper and husbandlike manner. And the 
said William Danby thereby declared, and directed, that 
the schoolmaster of the said school should from time to 
time, and at all times, thereafter, be elected, nominated, 
and placed in the said school, by the said William 
Danby, or the lord, or lords, or lady, or ladies, of the 
manor of Masham, and Mashamshire, for the time being, 
or by the guardian, or guardians, of any lord, or lords, 
or lady or ladies of the said manor, who might happen to 
be a minor or minors. And, that the schoolmaster of the 
said school for the time being, should, in consideration 
of his enjoying the said dwelling-house and hereditaments 
and premises thereinbefore mentioned, teach and instruct 
such a number of children of the poor inhabitants of the 
Parish of Masham, as the said William Danby, or the 
lord, or lords, or lady, or ladies, of the manor of Masham, 
and Mashamshire, or his, her, or their guardian, or guar- 
dians, and the said Joseph Burrill, or the resident minis- 
ter of the Parish Church of Masham, for the time being, 
should from time to time appoint, in the principles of the 
Protestant religion, as by law established, and in reading, 
writing, and arithmetic, and other proper and useful 
learning for poor children, without receiving any salary, 
gratuity, or reward, for the same, either from the Parish 
of Masham, or from any of the relations, or friends, of 
the said children, or any of them, without the consent of 
the said William Danby, or the lord, or lords, or lady, 
or ladies, of the manor of Masham, and Mashamshire, or 
his, her, or their guardian, or guardians, and the said 



440 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Joseph Burrill, or the resident minister of the Parish 
church of Masham, for the time being. But that the 
said schoolmaster of the said school for the time being, 
should be at liberty to take any scholars into the said 
school (besides the said poor children) and to take such 
salaries, or rewards, for teaching them as he should 
think fit. — And the said William Danby further directed, 
that the said school should at all times thereafter be 
ordered, governed, and conducted, by, under, and sub- 
ject to such rules, regulations, restrictions, and conditions, 
as the said William Danby, or the lord, or lords, or lady, 
or ladies, of the manor of Masham, and Mashamshire, for 
the time being, or his, her, or their guardian, or guar- 
dians, and the said Joseph Burrill, or the resident minis- 
ter of the Parish church of Masham, for the time being, 
should from time to time think proper to make, order, or 
direct, for that purpose. And that if any schoolmaster 
for the time being should neglect the said school, mis- 
behave himself, or become incapable, or unfit, to perform 
his duty, or refuse, or neglect, to act comformably, and 
in obedience to the rules, regulations, and orders, which 
should be made as aforesaid for governing and conduct- 
ing the said school, or should accept of, or undertake, 
any other situation, office, or employment, incompatible 
with his duty as schoolmaster of the said school, then 
and in every such case, it should be lawful for the said 
William Danby, or the lord, or lords, or lady, or ladies, 
of the manor of Masham, and Mashamshire, for the time 
being, or his, her, or their guardian, or guardians, to dis- 
place and remove such schoolmaster, on the 6th day of 
April in any year, upon giving him six calendar months 
previous notice in writing of his intended removal, and 
to nominate another fit person, in the room or place of 
the schoolmaster who should be so removed. But it 
was thereby declared, that no person should be appointed 
to, or hold, the situation of schoolmaster of the said 
school, unless he should be a Protestant according to the 
doctrine and discipline of the Church of England, and 
in communion therewith. 






CHARITIES. 441 

The Rev. Joseph Burrill, the sole trustee under this 
deed, died on the 1st March, 1853, and as no new 
trustee has since been appointed in his place, the legal 
estate in the Charity property is now vested in Mr. Wil- 
liam Burrill, of Liverpool, as his eldest son and heir-at- 
law. 

Mrs. Danby Harcourt's Charity School, was 
built by that lady in the year 1854. It is a neat stone 
building with a porch, and contains, besides the school- 
room, apartments for the schoolmistress. Mrs. Danby 
Harcourt also endowed it with £666 13s. 4d. three per 
cent consols, for the purposes, and in the manner set out 
in the Deed of Endowment to be mentioned presently. 
By an Indenture made the 17th March, 1856, between 
Octavius Henry Cyril Venables Vernon Harcourt,* of 
Swinton Park, an Admiral in Her Majesty's Royal Navy, 
and Anne Holwell Danby Yernon Harcourt, his wife, of 
the one part, and the said 0. H. C. V. Y. Harcourt, Chris- 
topher Imeson,f of Masham, gentleman, and John Light- 
foot the younger, of the same place, gentleman (trustees 
for the purposes thereinafter named) of the other part, 
after reciting that the said Anne H. D. Y. Harcourt, 
had then lately erected, fitted up, and established, as a 
school-room, and residence for the schoolmistress thereof, 
a certain building situate at the entrance into the town 
of Masham, and that she was desirous that a Day-school 
should from time to time for ever thereafter be held and 
carried on, in the said school-room, for teaching gratui- 
tously, such a number of girls as thereinafter mentioned, 
under and subject to the rules and regulations therein- 
after mentioned, or referred to, and that the other por- 
tion of the said building should be occupied as a residence 
for the time being of a schoolmistress, to be nominated, 
and appointed, displaced, and removed, in the manner, 

* He died on the 14th August, 1863. 

t He died on the 12th July, 1859, aged 60. 

EE 



442 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

and by the person, or persons, named and provided for 
in the said rules and regulations. And reciting, that in 
order to make provision for, or towards, the stipend or 
salary of such schoolmistress, and the clothing of 
twelve girls who should be instructed in the said school, 
and for supplying fuel to warm the said school-room and 
residence, and for supplying books for the said school, 
she, the said A. H. D. Y. Harcourt, with the privity 
and consent of her said husband and with monies at her 
own sole use and disposal, had purchased the capital sum 
of £666 13s. 4d. stock, in the 3 per cent. Consolidated 
Bank Annuities, and had caused the same to be trans- 
ferred into the joint names of the said 0. H. C. Y. Y. 
Harcourt, Christopher Imeson, and John Lighfoot the 
younger, and that such sum was then standing in their 
joint names in the transfer books of the governor and 
company of the Bank of England. And reciting, that 
the said A. H. D. V. Harcourt was further desirous, 
that such trusts should be declared of and concerning, 
the said bank annuities, as were thereinafter expressed 
and declared. It is witnessed, that for further effectua- 
ting the desire and intentions of the said A. H. D. Y. 
Harcourt, in relation to the said school and premises, 
and for declaring the trusts of the said bank annuities, it 
was thereby expressly declared, and agreed, that they, 
the said 0. H. C. Y. Y. Harcourt, C. Imeson, and John 
Lightfoot the younger, and the survivors and survivor 
of them, or the executors or administrators of such sur- 
vivor, and their or his assigns, or other the trustees or 
trustee for the time being, to be appointed under and by 
virtue of the power or authority thereinafter in that be- 
half contained, should stand and be possessed of the said 
sum of £666 13s. 4d., 3 per cent, consolidated bank an- 
nuities, which had been so transferred into, and was 
then standing in, the joint names of them, the said 
0. H. C. Y. Y. Harcourt, C. Imeson, and John Light- 
foot the younger, as thereinbefore recited, and the divi- 
dends and annual income thereof, upon trust, and to the 



CHAKITIES. 443 

intent that they, the said trustees, or the trustees, or 
trustee, for the time being acting under the said Inden- 
ture, should, from time to time, and at all times there- 
after, pay and apply the dividends and annual income 
arising from the said sum of £666 13s. 4d., 3 per cent, 
consolidated bank annuities, when, and as the same 
should become due, and payable, for and towards the 
payment of the salary of the said schoolmistress for the 
time being, and for or towards defraying the costs and 
expense of clothing from time to time the twelve girls 
who are being instructed free in the said school.- — And 
as to the residue and remainder of the said dividends 
(if any) upon trust, to invest such surplus, as therein 
mentioned, in order that the same might accumulate and 
form a fund for the increase or extension of the said 
school. — It was also declared that the appointment and 
removal of the said schoolmistress, should rest abso- 
lutely, and entirely, with, and be vested in, the said A. 
H. D. V. Harcourt, during her life, and that she should 
be at ^liberty, at her own absolute will and pleasure to 
dismiss, displace, and remove, any such school mistress, 
whenever, in the uncontrolled discretion of the said A. 
D. V. Harcourt, she should think fit, and to appoint 
another in her stead, and that any such schoolmistress 
so removed, should not have any claim whatever for 
salary, or any other remuneration, beyond the day of the 
date of her dismissal from being mistress of the said 
school, and should not under any pretence whatever, 
have any claim or right to remain in the school premises 
or residence. — And, that as long as any schoolmistress 
so appointed as aforesaid, should continue to be mistress, 
she should teach, and instruct, free of all charge, and to 
the best of her ability, twelve girls, to be appointed by 
the said A. H. D. V. Harcourt, during her life, in read- 
ing, sewing, marking, and plain work. — And that after 
the decease of the said A. H. D. V. Harcourt, the 
trustees, or trustee for the time being, acting under the said 
Indenture, should have full power and authority, at their 



444 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

discretion, to dismiss and displace the schoolmistress of 
the said school, at any time, for inattention to her duties, 
misconduct, or want of capacity for teaching, or for any 
other reasonable cause, which to the said trustees for the 
time being in their discretion should seem fit, and there- 
upon to remove such schoolmistress from the said school- 
house and residence, and to appoint such other fit per- 
son in her stead, as, in their discretion, they should 
choose to elect, and immediately upon any such dismis- 
sal of any schoolmistress, under or by virtue of the 
power thereby given to the said trustees, or trustee for 
the time being, such schoolmistress should be forthwith 
deprived of any right or claim to the use, or occupation, 
of the said school premises and residence, or any part 
thereof, or to any stipend or salary after the day of such 
dismissal or removal — proviso, that the owner of the 
Swinton estates for the time being, with the concurrence 
of the Vicar of Masham for the time being, and the said 
trustees, or the majority of them, shall have the nomina- 
tion and selection of the twelve girls before mentioned, 
and who may be chosen from any township in Masham- 
shire forming the Swinton property. 

Mrs. Danby Harcourt's Almshouses were built by 
that lady in the year 1853, and were endowed by her with 
£2650 3 per cent, consols, to enable each of the six in- 
mates thereof to receive five shillings a week, as is shewn 
by the following Deed of Endowment. By an Indenture 
(enrolled in Chancery) dated the 17th March, 1856, 
made between the said 0. H. C. V. V. Harcourt, and 
A. H. D. Y. Harcourt, his wife, of the one part, and the 
Rev. Thomas Hedley, Yicar of Masham, the said Chris- 
topher Imeson, and John Lightfoot the younger, of the 
other part. After reciting, that the said A. H. D, V. 
Harcourt, had lately erected, built, and fitted up, as 
almshouses, six small cottages in Masham, and that she 
was desirous that six poor persons of the Parish of Mas- 
ham, to be nominated and appointed as thereinafter 






CHAEIT1ES. 445 

mentioned, should from time to time, be permitted and 
allowed to become the inmates and occupiers of the 
said cottages or almshouses. And reciting, that in 
order to make some provision for, or towards, the main- 
tainance and support, of the persons from time to time 
residing in, or occupying the said cottages or alms- 
houses, the said A. H. D.V. Harcourt, had purchased 
the capital sum of £2650 3 per cent. Consolidated Bank 
Annuities, and had caused the same to be transferred 
into the joint names of the said Thomas Hedley, C. Ime- 
son, and J. Lightfoot the younger, and such sum of 
£2650 3 per cent. Consolidated Bank Annuities were 
then standing in the joint names of the said trustees. 
And reciting, that the said A. H. D. Y. Harcourt was 
further desirous that such trusts should be declared, of 
and concerning the said bank annuities, and the divi- 
dends and annual income thereof, as were thereinafter 
expressed and contained. It is witnessed, and was 
thereby declared, that the said trustees, and the trustees 
for the time being, to be appointed under or by virtue of 
the power or authority thereinafter in that behalf con- 
tained, should stand, and be possessed of, and interested 
in the said sum of £2650 3 per cent, consolidated bank 
annuities, which had been so transferred into, and was 
then standing in, the joint names of the said trustees, 
and the dividends, and annual proceeds or income 
thereof, upon the several trusts following : that was to say, 
upon trust, that they, the said trustees should from time 
to time, and at all times thereafter, pay and apply the divi- 
dends, and annual proceeds and income of, and arising 
from the said sum of £2650 3 per cent, consolidated bank 
annuities, when, and as the same should become due, and 
payable, for or towards the maintenance and support of 
the six poor persons, who for the time being should, un- 
der the rules and regulations thereinafter mentioned or 
referred to, reside in or occupy the said six cottages or 
almshouses, at Masham, so erected and built by the said 
A. H. D. Y. Harcourt, as aforesaid, but so nevertheless, 



446 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

and in such way and manner as that each inmate or occu- 
pier of the said six cottages or almshouses, for the time 
being, whether a male or female, or both (a man and his 
wife being counted one person only) may have and 
receive thereout for his, her, or their stipend, the sum 
of five shillings per week, and no more, to be payable 
every Wednesday morning. — And, as to the residue or 
surplus of the said dividends or annual proceeds (if any) 
to invest the same for the benefit of the inmates. — Pro- 
viso, that no inmate or occupier shall be entitled to 
receive or claim the said weekly stipend, or allowance 
of five shillings, unless he, she, or they, shall in all re- 
spects, matters, and things, submit and conform to, and 
duly observe, perform, and keep the several rules and 
regulations therein mentioned or referred to. 

Admiral Harcourt's Almshouses were built by 
that gentleman, in the year 1855, and were by him en- 
dowed with £1775, 3 per cent, consols, to enable each of 
the four inmates of such almshouses to receive live shil- 
lings a week, as is shewn by the following Deed of En- 
dowment. By an Indenture (enrolled in Chancery) da- 
ted 6th day of August, 1858, and made between the 
said 0. H. C. Y. V. Harcourt, of the one part, and the 
said Thomas Hedley, C. Imeson, and John Lightfoot of 
the other part, after reciting that the said 0. H. C. 
V. V. Harcourt had lately erected, built, and fitted up, 
as almshouses, four small cottages or tenements, in Mas- 
ham, and that he was desirous that four male poor per- 
sons, either single, or married and having a wife, but 
without family, of the Parish of Masham, to be nomina- 
ted and appointed as thereinafter mentioned, should 
from time to time be permitted and allowed to become 
the inmates and occupiers of the said cottages or alms- 
houses, under and subject to the rules and regulations 
thereinafter mentioned or referred to ; and reciting that 
in order to make some provision for, or towards, the 
maintenance and support of the persons from time to 



CHAKIT1ES. 447 

time residing in or occupying the said cottages or 
alms-houses, the said 0. H. C. Y. V. Harcourt had pur- 
chased the capital sum of £1775 stock in the 3 per 
centum consolidated bank annuities, and had caused the 
same to be transferred into the joint names of the said 
trustees, and that the said bank annuities were then stand- 
ing in the joint names of the said trustees, in the trans- 
fer books of the governors of the Bank of England. — 
And reciting, that the said 0. H. C. V. V. Harcourt 
was further desirous that such trusts should be declared 
of, and concerning, the said bank annuities, and the di- 
vidends and annual income thereof, as are thereinafter 
expressed and contained. It is witnessed, and was 
thereby declared, that the said trustees, or the trustees 
or trustee for the time being, to be appointed under or 
by virtue of the power or authority thereinafter in that 
behalf contained, should stand arid be possessed of and 
interested in the said sum of £1775 in 3 per centum 
consolidated bank annuities, which had been so transfer- 
red into and was then standing in, the joint names of the 
said trustees, and the dividends and annual proceeds or 
income thereof, upon the several trusts following, that 
was to say, upon trust, that they, the said trustees 
should, from time to time, and at all times thereafter, 
pay and apply the dividends and annual proceeds or in- 
come of, or arising from the said sum of £1775 3 per 
centum consolidated bank annuities, when and as the 
same should become due or payable for, or towards, the 
maintenance and support of the four poor persons who 
for the time being should under the rules and regulations 
therein mentioned, or referred to, reside in or occupy 
the said four cottages or almshouses, at Masham afore- 
said, so erected and built by the said 0. H. C. Y. V. 
Harcourt as aforesaid, but so nevertheless, and in such 
way, and manner, as that each inmate or occupier of 
the said four cottages or almshouses, for the time being, 
whether a single person, or a man and his wife (a man 
and his wife considered as one individual) may have 



448 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

and receive thereout, for his, her, or their stipend, the 
sum of five shillings per week, and no more, to be pay- 
able every Wednesday morning. And as to the residue, 
or surplus of the said dividends, or annual proceeds (if 
any) to invest the same for the benefit of the inmates. 
Proviso, that no inmate, or occupier, should be entitled 
to receive, or claim the said weekly stipend or allowance 
of five shillings unless he, or they, should in all respects 
matters, and things, submit and conform to, and duly 
observe, perform, and keep the several rules and regula- 
tions therein mentioned or referred to. 

Poor's Lands in Coverdale. — By Indentures of 
lease and re-lease, the re-lease being dated the 24th March, 
1731, James Geldart, and Lucy his wife, in consideration 
of £94 5s., conveyed unto Sir Roger Beckwith,* Ab- 
strupus Danby,f William Beck with, J Christopher 
Gregg, || John Bartlett,§ and John Lonsdale,^" (being 
part of the twenty four of Masham) and their heirs, a 
messuage or tenement in Carlton, in Coverdale a close 
of meadow ground called the garth, on the backside of 
the said messuage, and two closes of meadow called 
respectively Tenters and the Kiln close, containing 
altogether by estimation 3a. lr. upon trust, after deduc- 
tion of taxes, repairs, and other incidental charges yearly, 
on the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, according to the 
best of their discretion, with the approbation of the rest of 
the Twenty-four for the Parish of Masham, for the time 
being, to give and distribute to the most poor, impotent, 
and aged people of the township of Masham (in such 

* Sir Roger Beckwith shot himself in May, 1743. 

t Abstrupus Danby, Esq., died 12th March, 1750. 

% William Beckwith died 5th June, 1762. 

|| Christopher Gregg died 31st March, 1748. 

§ John Bartlett died 15th Dec, 1769. 

^j" John Lonsdale was buried 1st May, 1784. — He was the last surviving 
trustree under this Deed. The legal estate in this property is therefore now 
vested in his heir-at-law, viz : — The Right Rev. John Lonsdale, D.D., 
Bishop of Lichfield. 






CHARITIES. 449 

proportions as they should think fit) such proportion of 
the rents and profits of the said premises to £20 as the 
whole rent is to £94 5s. (the consideration money afore- 
said) or with such proportion of the said rents and profits 
to put or place out apprentice or apprentices, such child 
or children of the most poor, impotent and aged people 
of the township of Masham, as to them should seem meet 
and proper (£20, part of the said purchase money being 
left for that purpose) ; and in like manner yearly, on the 
feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle, according to the 
best of their discretion (with the approbation of the rest of 
the said Twenty-four of the said Parish) after deduction 
of taxes, repairs, and other incidental charges relating to 
the trust aforesaid, to distibute and give to the most poor, 
impotent, and aged people of the Parish of Masham, in 
such proportions as they should think fit ; the rest of the 
rents and profits of the said premises or otherwise, there- 
with to put or place out apprentice or apprentices such 
child or children of the most poor, impotent and aged people 
of the Parish of Masham, as to them should seem meet 
and proper, such residue being left for that purpose : 
and power was thereby reserved to the trustees on the 
death, resignation or non-residence of any of them 
within the Parish of Masham, and as the major part of 
them then in being, should think proper to choose others 
of the Parish of Masham, to fill up the vacancies in the 
number of trustees. 

The property at Carlton was bought by the Four and 
Twenty with the sum of £70, then in their hands and 
belonging to the poor of the Parish of Masham, and 
with the further sum ef £20, then belonging to the poor 
of the township of Masham, the balance of £4 5s., being 
made up by the township, and the Parish contributing 
to it proportionably, as I gather from a minute to that 
effect in an old book belonging to the township of Mas- 
ham, which further states that the township is entitled 
to two-unith parts of the clear rents and profits of the 
estate, and that the Parish is entitled to the remainder, and 

FF 



450 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

that the rents had accordingly been so distributed ever 
since the making of the purchase. I find, however, on 
referring to a book belonging to the Four and Twenty, 
the following minute having reference to this property, 
viz. : "1844, Dec. 14th, it was resolved by the Four and 
Twenty that whereas it appears that when the rent was 
four pounds, the poor of Masham were considered 
entitled to one-fifth, and that now the rent is seven 
pounds, the same sum of 16s. only has been given, the 
proportion should again be raised to one-fifth of the rent. 
— T. Kiddell." 

Since the date of this last minute, I find that £1 8s. 
has been annually distributed among the poor of Masham 
township, instead of 16s. as heretofore ; and that £5 12s. 
(being the balance of the rent of £7) has been annually 
applied by the Four and Twenty in placing out appren- 
tice boys of the whole Parish, £1 being paid for each boy 
on the production of the indenture. 

The £20 mentioned above as belonging to the town- 
snip of Masham, was partly derived from a bequest made 
by the will of a William Tipping, dated the 25 th Decem- 
ber, 1626, in which he gave " to the poor of 
the town of Masham 20s. yearly," the annual payment 
of 20s. being afterwards commuted by a money payment 
of £15, and partly by a sum of £5, being the remnant of 
a legacy of £100 which was left to the poor of Masham, 
by a person of the name of Smith, but which (with the 
exception of £7 1 0s. ) was lost by the insolvency of a 
person who held the money. 

Formerly and down to the 14th Dec, 1844, it was the 
practice to distribute 16s. (part of the annual rent of this 
land) under the name of " Tipping' s dole," among poor 
persons of the township of Masham, for which purpose it 
was added to money collected at the sacrament; and the 
same practice has prevailed since the 14th Dec, 1844, 
the only difference being that £1 8s., has been so dis- 
tributed in the place of 16s. as formerly. 

The property at Carlton, including an allotment of an 



CHAKIT1ES. 451 

acre and a half of land made on the inclosure of Carlton 
common, is now let to William Walls, of Carlton, at 
the rent of £7 per annum. 

Hutchinson's Dole. — This is a rent-charge of £2 per 
annum, £1 thereof is payable to the poor of Masham 
township, and the other £1 to the poor of the township 
of Swinton, charged by the will of John Hutchinson, of 
Eipon, dated the 9th Sept., 1719, on certain lands in the 
Parish of Kirkby Malzeard, called the poor-lands (now 
the property of Charles Oxley, Esq., of Ripon) as 
appears by the following extract from such will: — " And 
I hereby give and devise all that farm-hold or tenement, 
with its appurtenances commonly called by the name of 
Falls, situate and being within the township of Galgah, 
al s Galgay, al s Galghway, in the Parish of Kirkby Mal- 
zeard, in the said county of York, with all the lands, 
closes, tenements, and hereditaments, whatsoever, to the 
same belonging and now therewith held and enjoyed, 
unto the said John Bartlett, Charles Lyster, and John 
Wells, and their successors and heirs, for ever, upon the 
special trust and confidence, following, viz : — That they 
the said John Bartlett, Charles Lyster, and John Wells, 
and the survivors, successors, and survivors of them and 
his heirs, shall out of the yearly rents, issues, and profits 
thereof, pay unto my said dear wife [£4 per annum]. 
And upon this further trust and confidence, that they 
the said John Bartlett, Charles Lyster, and John Wells, 
and the survivors, successors, and survivor of them and 
his heirs, shall yearly and every year, for ever from and 
after the decease of my said wife, pay unto the 
respective overseers of the poor of the respective 
townships of Well, Masham, and Swinton, in the said 
county of York, for the time being, the respective sums 
of twenty shillings a piece, the same to be respectively 
paid unto them upon the first day of March yearly, and 
every year, without any deduction or abatement for any 
cause, matter, or thing whatsoever, to be by the said 



452 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

respective overseers yearly applied in and towards the 
relief of the respective poor of the said respective town- 
ships." 

Thirkill's Charity. — Jane, widow of John Thirkill, 
of London (who died 27th July, 1812) by her will 
bequeathed £100 towards the institution of a Female 
Union Society in the Parish of Masham (see ante p. 
397-8.) 

Marsden's Charity.— Mrs. Marsden, of Hanover 
Terrace, Regent's Park, London, gave £220 3 per cent, 
consolidated bank annuities, and caused the same to be 
transferred on the 22nd February, 1842,' to the late Rev. 
Thomas Riddell, Yicar of Masham, William Burrill, 
(now of Liverpool) and the late John Burrill in trust, 
viz : — the interest to be applied annually for the benefit 
of such poor people of the Parish of Masham, as the said 
trustees in their discretion shall think proper. — The 
Vicar of Masham for the time being is always considered 
as one of the trustees (see ante p. 397.) 

Wrather's Charities. — Elizabeth Wrather, late of 
Masham, spinster, by her will dated 4th May, 1853, 
gave "to the school at Scarbeckwall, Masham, £100 of 
my 3^ per cents, funded property, for the education of 
poor boys from the most destitute families in Masham — 
1 wish this legacy to remain in the funds. — After a cer- 
tain time the poor children will take their turns of 
removal to the Free School, and others will be appointed 
to their places. — The Yicar of Masham to have the 
nomination* # * * * I leave a sovereign a year to the 
Dorcas society." (see ante p. 395.) 

Township of Fearby. 

Ripley's Rent-Charge. — William Ripley, by will 
dated 14th Dec, 1722, devised to his nephew, William 



CHARITIES. 453 

Ripley, and the heirs of his body, all his messuages, lands, 
and hereditaments in the townships of Fearby and Mid- 
dleham, in the county of York, upon condition that there 
should thereof be yearly paid by the said William 
Ripley, and the heirs of his body, to the poor of Fearby 
aforesaid, 10s. on Candlemas-day, for ever. 

Township of Ilton-cum-Pot. 

There is an ancient payment of 10s. a year to the 
poor of this township, out of a cottage and three small 
fields of about three acres in the township, the property 
of the Horsman family. This payment is still continued 
to be made by Miss Margaret Horsman, of Ilton, the 
present owner of the property. 

Township op Ellingstring. 

Wright's Gift. — Thomas Wright, by will dated the 
5th Oct., 1715, gave to the poor of Ellingstring, £50 — the 
use of it, 50s. a year, to be paid for ever on St. Thomas's 
day, to honest religious poor people, and such as John 
Wright and four others therein named should think fit. 
The will, however, was not duly executed as the law 
then stood, being signed in the presence of two witnesses 
only, and the payment, which has been discontinued, 
cannot therefore be legally enforced. 

Township op Swinton. 

Hutchinson's Dole. — This Charity is noticed ante p. 
451, and still distributed. 

King's Gipt. — "William King (as appears by an 
entry in the Overseers' or Township book) left £12, 
the interest thereof, viz : 10s. to be distributed among the 
poor of Swinton yearly." The interest is added to, and 
distributed with, the Sacrament money and Hutchinson's 
Dole before alluded to. The £12 is now invested in the 
Bedale Savings Bank. 



454 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



Bartlett's Dole — This is an annual payment of 5s. 
a year for the poor out of land in Swinton, now the pro- 
perty of Mrs. Danby Vernon Har court, and formerly 
belonging to the Bartlett, and afterwards the Ascough 
family. This Dole is still distributed. 

Charity for Apprenticing. — By Indenture dated 
30th March, 1714, made between John Pickard of Low 
Boomer, in the Parish of Masliam (surviving executor 
of the will of John Pickard his late father deceased) of 
the one part, and the Honourable Sir Abstruphus Danby, 
of Mashamshire, in the county of York, of the other 
part : Reciting that Matthew Imeson being possessed 
of, or entitled to, two little closes of meadow or pasture 
ground on the low flat, commonly called the three acre 
closes, containing by estimation three acres, abutting on 
Badger-lane on the west, and the river Eure on the 
east, lying and being in the township of Swinton, in 
Boomer, and Wardermark, hi the county of York, with 
the appurtenances, for the residue of the several and 
respective terms of eight hundred four score, and eight 
hundred and three score and nineteen years, or for the 
remainder of some other considerable number of years 
unexpired, had by indenture of lease dated 1st March, 
1672, for the consideration therein mentioned, demised 
the said premises to the said John Pickard the father, for 
860 years thence ensuing without impeachment of 
waste ; and further reciting that the said John Pickard, 
the father, had by his will constituted Mirian Pickard, 
and the said John Pickard (the party) executors thereof, 
and that they had proved the said will, so that the 
interest in law in the said premises became vested hi the 
said Mirian Pickard and John Pickard (the party) or one 
of them : and that the said Mirian Pickard afterwards 
died, by whose death the interest in law in the premises 
became solely vested in the said John Pickard (the party) 
and further reciting that the said John Pickard (the party) 
by indenture dated 1st May, 1712, in consideration of 



CHARITIES. 455 

£25 paid by Sir Abstrupus Danby, Knight (£20 part 
thereof being a legacy left by Mrs. Ann Norton,* by her 
will dated 27th August, 1640) to the intent that out 
of the interest and produce thereof, yearly and every 
year, a poor child should be bounden apprentice within 
the Parish of Masham, especially from Swinton :f and 
£5 the remainder thereof being a gift given by the then 
late Lady Yorke, J niece to the said Ann Norton, since 
the making the aforesaid will towards placing out the 
said poor children apprentices, had demised to the said 

* Ann Norton, of Swinton, gentlewoman, by her will dated the 27th 
August, 1640, after bequeathing her soul to Almighty God her maker, and to 
Jesus Christ her redeemer, hoping through the merits of her Lord and 
Saviour, Christ Jesus, to obtain everlasting salvation, and giving and be- 
queathing her body to be buried in the church or churchyard of Masham, at 
the likinge of her executor and cozen, Edmond Norton, " gave thirty shillings 
yearly and every year for the binding of a poor child prentice within the 
Parish of Massam, and especially from Swinton wherein I was borne." 
She also in this will makes mention of her brother Maior Norton [Mauger 
Norton] of Richmond, gentleman — her brother Richard — the daughter of 
her brother Richard, "w 7 hich I christened," — her sister Ciciie Norton. 
She constituted Christopher Beckwith, of "VVoodall in Nidderdale, her sole 
Executor, and appointed her " Cozen Edmond Norton of Stainley Rice, Gen., 
supervisor." — The will is witnessed by James Danbie, Edmond Norton, 
Henry Atkinson, and John Horsman. 

t The people of Swinton read these words as if they meant exclusively 
from Swinton, whereas the utmost that they can mean is, that preference 
should be given to those in Swinton. Acting upon this interpretation of 
the words, they have hitherto appropriated the whole of the money to the 
apprenticing of poor children from Swinton, to the exclusion of the rest of 
the Parish ; and, as it but seldom happens that Swinton produces a poor 
child which requires putting out apprentice, they have accumulated the 
money until it has reached the sum of £70, which they retain in their hands 
rather than apply it, or any part of it, towards putting out apprentice poor 
children from other parts of the Parish. This is manifestly wrong and 
requires correction. 

X Lady Yorke here alluded to, was Mary Norton, the daughter of Mauger 
Norton, M.P., of St. Nicholas, near Richmond ; she was baptized at Rich- 
mond, on the 12th July, 1635, and was married there on the 20th August, 
1651, to Sir John Yorke, M.P., of Gowthwaite Hall, in Nidderdale, who was 
M.P. for the borough of Richmond, as mentioned ante p. 287. Mr. Grainge, 
however, in his " History of Nidderdale," page 49, says that the marriage 



456 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



Sir A. Danby, the premises aforesaid for 600 years 
thence next ensuing, in trust nevertheless for the use of 
the poor of Swinton, in the said county of York, 
redeemable upon the paying £26 10s. in such manner 
as therein expressed. It is witnessed that the said John 
Pickard (the party) in consideration of the further sum 
of £15 paid by Sir A. Danby, being a gift given by him 
in addition to the said Mrs. Ann Norton's and the Lady 
Yorke's charity, and for the better performance of the 
said Ann Norton's will, towards putting out a proper 
child or children apprentices from Swinton Constablery 
aforesaid, granted, bargained, sold, and assigned unto 
the said Sir A. Danby, all his estate, right, interest, claim 
and demand whatsoever, in law or equity, of, in, or to 
the before-mentioned closes ; to hold the same unto the 
said Sir A. Danby, his executors, administrators, and 
assigns, for all the remainder of the said term of 860 
years, granted by the said Matthew Imeson, to the 
said John Pickard (the father) in trust only and for 
and towards the placing out such poor child, or poor 
children apprentices in Masham Parish, or elsewhere, as 
from time to time should happen to be born or have 
some legal settlement in the Constablery of Swinton 
aforesaid, and to no other use, intent, and purpose what- 
soever. 

The land mentioned in this deed, and which goes by 
the name of "the Poor Boys' Closes," is now in the 
occupation of Dr. Dalgleish of Masham, and lies open on 
one side to adjoining land belonging to Mrs. Danby 
Harcourt, the fence having been taken away ; there are, 

between Sir John Yorke and Mary Norton, took place on the loth January, 
1658, when Sir John was a minor, and that when he came of age he settled 
upon his wife as a jointure, all his manors or lordships of Nidderdale, and 
Appletreewick, Gowthwaite Hall, &c. : and that it was by this lady that 
the property of the Nortons at Richmond, came into the possession of the 
family of Yorke as dower : and that she was the dame Mary Yorke, 
who, during her widowhood, purchased the manor of Bewerley in 1678. It 
is from this lady that John Yorke, Esq., the present owner of Bewerley, is 
descended. 



CHARITIES. 457 

however, boundary stones erected to mark the real 
boundary. It contains by admeasurement 4a. 3r. 16p. 
The whole of the rents derived from this land are 
applied in putting out as apprentices, boys who have 
either been born, or have their legal settlements, in 
Swinton Township. — £4 appears to be the sum which is 
usually paid for putting out an apprentice. 



458 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



ANCIENT CUSTOMS, &c. 



The practice of ringing the Curfew-bell morning and 
evening, has been continued at Masham down to the 
present time. The introduction of this custom into 
England is usually ascribed to William the Conqueror, 
and is said to have been first instituted by him in the 
City of Winchester, as a badge of servitude, and for the 
purpose of keeping the subjugated English from meeting 
over their cups, and debating their grievances. Whilst 
these regulations were in operation, it was required that 
at the time of its evening sound, all lights and fires 
should be extinguished, and not be re-kindled till its 
sound was again heard in the morning. This was 
effected by raking the ashes of the wood fires over the 
embers as they lay upon the hearth — hence its name 
Couvrefeu, or Cover-fire(see Milne's Winchester, i, 189.) 
Some, however, who give the credit of its institution to the 
Conqueror, are of opinion that these were not the only 
reasons which he had for introducing his Curfew regula- 
tions into England, and that one object at least which he 
had in view, was to prevent the frequent occurrence 
of the serious conflagrations of the dwellings of the 
English to which they were then subject, owing to the 
combustible nature of the materials then used in their 
construction, viz : — wood, wattles, &c. — brick being then 
but little used, whilst stone was reserved for ecclesiasti- 
cal and military structures. This was especially the case 
in this district, which was then a wild forest — 
so much, indeed, was this the case, that the neighbour- 
ing village of Watlass actually took its name from the 
wattles of which it was then built. — Hence the necessity 
for such a precaution. 



ANCIENT CUSTOMS. 459 

There can be no doubt, however, that the practice of 
ringing the Curfew-bell is of much older date than the 
time of William the Conqueror, and that it had long pre- 
vailed throughout Europe, at the time of the conquest, 
so that the Conqueror had only the merit, or demerit, 
whichever it maybe deemed, of introducing into England 
an existing custom already practised elsewhere, and not 
that of originating it, as has been erroneously supposed. 
— See Pop. Antiq., ii, p. 137. 

The error which I have just pointed out, was not, I 
believe, the only error in connection with the ringing of 
the Curfew-bell — as it was called. If the Curfew-bell 
was really instituted by the Conqueror, or if it be true 
that he imposed upon the subjugated English his Cur- 
few regulations as a badge of servitude, or slavery, and 
with the object I have already mentioned, one would 
naturally have supposed that the people would have been 
but too glad to have got rid of it as soon as the oppor- 
tunity for doing so presented itself, yet such was not the 
case. The law which enacted these oppressive Curfew 
regulations was abolished by King Henry I. (the Con- 
queror's youngest son) in the year 1110, yet we find 
that the practice of ringing the bell was continued as be- 
fore, and that it has since been continued in many parts 
of both England and Scotland down to the present day r 
and what is more, in a great many places, indeed, a 
salary is still paid annually out of the Parish monies for 
the ringing of it. Now, as men, when left to themselves, 
do not usually pursue a practice which is attended with 
labour and some expense, we may venture to conclude 
that they have not been without an object in the contin- 
uance of such a practice for so many hundreds of years 
after the legal necessity for it had ceased. The ringing 
of the bell no doubt owes its continuance, if not its- 
origin, to a religious observance, or what was formerly 
regarded as a religious duty, the object of it being to re- 
call to men's minds the duties they owe to their Maker 
— to excite them to acts of devotion — and repeat the 



460 M ASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE 

Angelas Domini in memory of our Saviour's becoming 
Man for their salvation, from which circumstance it came 
to be known by the name of the Angelus Bell. The 
name, however, together with its end and object is now 
wholly forgotten, and the times of its being rung have 
in the course of time been changed to 8 a.m., and 5 p.m., 
to suit the utilitarian spirit of the age in which we live, 
and it now only serves to recall the labourer to his daily 
toil in the fields, and to release him at the conclusion of 
the day from his labour. 

Formerly it was the custom to ring the Church-bells 
on the eve of the September Fairs, the object being (ac- 
cording to a tradition handed down to us through old 
Jack Harrison, the leader of the ringers) to guide by 
the sound of the bells, persons coming across the wide 
moors (which were then laid open and unenclosed) to 
attend the fairs. I suspect, however, that the ringing of 
the bells on those occasions, had reference rather to the 
commemoration of the anniversary of the dedication of 
the church, than to the direction of the strangers coming 
across the moors to attend the fairs. 

The manner of tolling the Passing-bell * or SouTs-bell, 

* The Passing-bell, as its name implies, was formerly tolled whilst the per- 
son was yet alive, but on the point of dying or passing from life, in order 
that those who heard it might pray for the soul of the person so dying. The 
practice is not only associated with the finest impulses of human nature, but 
is of high antiquity. Durand, who flourished about the end of the twelfth 
century, tells us in his Rationale, Lib. I., ch. 13, " When any one is dying, 
bells must be tolled that the people may put up their prayers ; twice for a 
woman, and thrice for a man : if for a Clergyman, as many times as he had 
orders : and at the conclusion a peal on all the bells, to distinguish the 
quality of the person for whom the people are to put up their prayers." It 
is also mentioned in Bede's " Ecclesiastical History," Lib. IV., cap 23, also in 
Ellis's " Original Letters Illustrative of EnglishHistory," 2nd Series, vol. ii, p. 
290. The practice was not only retained at the Reformation, but it contin- 
ued in use as late as the time of Charles II., up to which time the tolling of 
this bell formed one of the enquiries in all Articles of Visitation. By the 
begiuning of the Eighteenth century the Passing-bell, in the proper sense of 
the term, had almost ceased to be heard. Brand in his "Popular Antiquities " by 
Ellis, vol. ii, p. 129, makes mention of a custom being still preserved in the 



ANCIENT CUSTOMS. 461 

here is very ancient and different to that which prevails 
in other Parishes. Here, in the case of persons dying 
within the town of Masham, or in Burton Constablery, 
the Tenor-bell is first rung out, but not so in the case of 
persons dying in any other part of the Parish ; after which, 
in the case of a child under seven years of age, three 
knells are given on each of the six bells in succession if 
a female, and three knells on the first four bells, and five 
knells on the last two bells in succession if a male. For 
a person under sixteen years of age five knells are given 
on each of the six bells in succession if a female, and iive 
knells on the first four bells, and seven knells on the last 
two bells in succession if a male. For a person above 
sixteen years of age, but unmarried, seven knells are 
given on each of the six bells in succession if a female, 
and seven knells on each of the first four bells, and nine 
knells each on the last two bells in succession if a male. 
For a married person, nine knells are given on each of 
the six bells in succession if a female, and nine knells on 
each of the first four bells, and eleven knells on each of 
the last two bells in succession if a male. Thus by pay- 
ing attention to the bell and to these rules, a listener is 
able to tell whether the person deceased is young or old, 
whether male or female, and whether single or married. 

The advent of Christmas used formerly to be heralded 
in here by the visits of Yessel-cup singers, bearing bas- 
kets containing waxen images of the Infant Saviour, and 
singing Christmas carols; and afterwards for several 
mornings in succession by the " Waits." 

Christmas Eve is commemorated by a gathering 
together (whenever practicable) of all the members of each 
family, and the partaking together of a supper of fur- 
menty, yule-cakes, and cheese, besides other good things, 
over a blazing fire, in which the yule-log plays a promi- 

Nortli of England, of making numerical distinctions at the conclusion of the 
ceremony here alluded to ; " i. e. nine knells for a man, six for a woman, and 
three for a child," which he says are undoubtedly the vestiges of the ancient 
injunctions of popery. 



462 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

nent part, and " not to be snuffed "yule-candles which the 
family grocer, by ancient and immemorial custom, is 
bound to supply gratuitously. If the supper of fur- 
menty, &c, should not by any chance have succeeded in 
effecting a sleepless night to the partakers of it, that ob- 
ject is sure to be attained by two or three companies at 
the least of vagrant " Christmas Singers," serenading 
them at different hours during the night, followed by a 
parcel of " urchins " screaming out at the top of their 
small voices, " I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy 
New Year, please will you give me a Christmas-box." 
Before, however, the door can be opened to any of these 
" disturbers of the peace," it is imperatively necessary 
that the " lucky bird " should be first introduced, and 
that that lucky-bird should not by any means be a female, 
but a black curly-headed boy, and that no lights or fires on 
any account be taken in, or out of the house and premi- 
ses during Christmas time. Woe betide the individual 
who has the hardihood to disregard any one of these 
time-honoured observances : — the least thing that can be- 
fall him will be a run of ill-luck during the whole of the 
coining year. 

Christmas-day is ever redolent of roast beef, roast 
goose, and indigestible plum-pudding, and rum or 
brandy sauce to boot — and New year's day is spent 
much after the same fashion as Christmas-day. 

During the whole time of Christmas, the Church and 
the houses are decked with twigs of laurel and holly. The 
"Fond Plough," or "Plough Stott," and "Sword-dancers," 
dressed up in grotesque habits pay their annual visits to 
the Parish at this season of joviality, to partake of its 
hospitalities and good cheer, for which the Parish is pro- 
verbial. 

" St. Valentine's Day " has still its votaries in this Parish 
amongst the young unmarried of both sexes. 

"Collop Monday" is still observed so far, at least, as the 
dining on eggs and collops on this day is concerned, but 
the people of Mashamshire do not by any means on this 



ANCIENT CUSTOMS. 463 

day take their leave of flesh meat, previous to their en- 
tering upon the solemn season of Lent, as they formerly 
did in the Roman Catholic times. 

"Pancake Tuesday" is also observed by the ringing of 
the pancake-bell at 11 a.m., and by afterwards dining up- 
on pancakes, but not I fear by the confessions of sins, as 
in times previous to the Reformation. During the last 
generation, as if by way of contrast to the strictness in 
which it was formerly observed, the day was spent in 
cock-fighting, and the night in dancing, card-playing, 
and revelry — but this is all past away. Within the time 
of my own recollection the day was observed as a holi- 
day for schoohboys and apprentices, and was generally 
spent in playing at " knorr-and-spell," &c, in the Mar- 
field, as well as at other places in the Parish. — It is now 
but little observed. 

On " Ash- Wednesday" the good people of Masham cer- 
tainly do not put on sack-cloth and ashes. Our fathers 
and grandfathers used so far to observe this day as to dine 
on salt-fish ; but we, of the present generation, dine on 
what we like best or rather upon what some of us can 
get, and the day is not now otherwise observed. 

At the beginning of Lent the most inveterate of card- 
players (and their number was legion) used to lay aside 
their packs of cards, and would not on any account, so 
much as touch them during the whole season of Lent ; 
but now, however, the practice is very different. 

" Good- Friday," however, is better kept now than it was 
some thirty or forty years ago, although by no means so 
well observed as it ought to be. The farmers and 
tradesmen during the last generation used to follow 
their usual occupations on this day as on other week 
days ; the former, however, deeming it unlucky to 
break, or turn up the soil on this day, enrploy their 
teams and their labourers in the leading and clearing 
away of rubbish, and otherwise cleaning their farms, and 
thus contrive to cheat the devil. 

On "Easter Sunday," young men and boys, by prescrip- 



464 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

tive right, take the liberty of taking the shoes from off 
young women's feet, and of keeping them till redeemed 
by a payment of money ; and on Easter Monday, the 
young women in exercise of the like right, possess them- 
selves, as best they can, of the hats of the young men 
and retain them until they are redeemed by a like pay- 
ment. 

"All-Fools Day" (the 1st April) and " May-gosling 
day " (the 1st May) are never allowed to pass over 
without some body or other being sent on sleeveless 
errands. 

In Eogation Week, or on one of the three days before 
Ascension day, or Holy Thursday, it was formerly the 
custom to perambulate the bounds of the Parish, and on 
those occasions meat and drink were provided for the 
parties taking part in the perambulation. About the 
year 1640, the people of Ellington turned refractory, and 
refused to provide meat and drink for the perambulation ; 
accordingly we find that at the Ecclesiastical Court held 
in Masham Church, on the 19th May, 1640, John Corn- 
forth, of Ellington, was presented and afterwards excom- 
municated, " for not providing bread and drink for the 
perambulation according to ancient custom." JSTo peram- 
bulation of the Parish has taken place within the 
time of living memory. 

"Royal Oak Day" (the 29th May) is still observed by 
the boys decking themselves and the Grammar school, 
with the leaves of the oak. Formerly the church-bells 
were rung on this day, but the practice has been discon- 
tinued. 

Whitsuntide is now only kept in remembrance by the 
annual feast, and the dance after it, held at Healey, on 
Whit Tuesday. 

The "Sheep Shearing," and the " Mell-Supper," at the 
conclusion of the harvest, have always been, and may they 
long continue to be, in this parish, seasons of festive mer- 
riment. 

The " Masham Fairs " have ever been pregnant with 



ANCIENT CUSTOMS. 465 

roast-beef, pickled-cabbag© and strong ale, to which by 
the laws of hospitality prevailing in the Parish, all comers 
are ever welcome : every individual, however humble his 
circumstances, considering it his bounden duty to provide 
a plentiful supply of these indispensable articles for con- 
sumption on these occasions. 

u Riding the Stang " for offenders against the laws of 
conjugal propriety, has become, by long usage, an institu- 
tion in this Parish. The offender, however, instead of being 
mounted in propria persona, and borne backwards 
upon the stang or pole, is here represented by an 
effigy, which is publicly carried about the town in 
a cart, and thus exhibited for three successive nights. On 
the last of those nights it is burned at the Market-cross, 
and an oration hi doggerel rhyme, composed for the 
occasion, pronounced over it by way of warning to all 
persons in likeways offending. 

The feast in honour of Bishop Blaize, * the patron 
Saint of the Woolcombers, and who is said to have been 
the inventor of woolcombing, was formerly held here an- 
nually, on the 3rd Feby., when it was duly commemo- 
rated by the woolcombing fraternity by a supper, and 
a swill — for the "jolly combing-boys " were always 
" thirsty souls". This, at least, was the course pursued 
in ordinary years, but on some special occasions, some- 
thing grander and more imposing, as a spectacle, was not 
only attempted, but attained by them. On these special 
occasions a grand procession was formed, which being pre-* 
ceded by a band of music, promenaded not only the 
streets of the town of Masham, but those of other 
neighbouring towns. The procession was composed of 
master woolcombers on horseback, each wearing a white 
sliver of wool; woolsorters, also on horseback, each car- 

* St. Belasius is generally represented as Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia, 
and as having suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Licinius, in 316. 
The fact of iron combs having been used in tearing the flesh of the martyr, 
appears the sole reason of his having been adopted by the woolcombers as 
their patron saint. — " Book of Days." vol. i, p. 219. 

GG 



£(j(j masham and mashamshire. 

rying a fleece before him, and bright and glittering 
shears ; the shepherd and shepherdess dressed in green, 
and bearing shepherds' crooks; the Bishop, on horse- 
back, dressed in his mitre and full canonicals, bearing an 
open Bible in one hand and a woolcomb in the other, 
attended by guards and attendants, and accompanied by 
his chaplain (who acted the part of the orator on the 
occasion) ; followed by the working woolcombers and 
others connected with the trade, on foot, in shirts as 
white, and as neat, as women's hands could make them, 
each gaily decked with cross -belts, sashes, and bracelets 
composed of parti-coloured slivers of wool; the rear of 
the cavalcade being brought up, as if by way of contrast, 
by an old charcoal-burner with grimy face, and a short 
tobacco-pipe stuck in his mouth, smoking like a steam- 
engine, and mounted upon an ill-favoured mule, with 
trappings to match its rider. The cavalcade, it must be 
admitted, presented — with the glittering paraphernalia 
and other emblematic figures and devices, representing 
Jason and the golden fleece, &c, which were used on the 
occasion — a novel yet somewhat imposing appearance, 
and created no little interest in the place. The proces- 
sion occasionally came to a halt, when the orator deli- 
vered himself of the following grandiloquent oration : — 

" From an infinite variety of blessings conferred by 
Providence upon the inhabitants of Great Britain, none 
seems to be of greater importance, or of more general 
utility, than that of the Golden Fleece, which was little 
known to the people of this happy Isle until the glorious 
reign of Edward the Third. About that period, accord- 
ing to tradition, Bishop Blaize [here the orator grace- 
fully extended his hand towards the Bishop, and the 
Bishop, in acknowledgment, made a low but very digni- 
fied obeisance] first introduced the combing of wool 
into this Kingdom,* and we have the honour to be his 

* I confess I cannot sec how the Bishop, after being dead some thousand 
years, could introduce the art of woolcombing- into England, as here boldly 






ANCIENT CUSTOMS. 467 

successor in that important mystery which employs 
such a number of our fellow-creatures, and not only 
contributes to the improvement of Masham, but, more 
than all the rest, to the splendour and dignity of the 
British Crown. Our fleets, which ride triumphant on 
the vast expanded ocean, and carry terror to the utmost 
limits of the torrid zone, are chiefly supported by the 
manufacturers of this kingdom, where we claim prece- 
dence; therefore, with grateful hearts, let us celebrate 
this glorious day to the memory of the immortal Blaize, 
till time shall be no more. God save the Queen, and 
the inhabitants of this place." [Here, again, the Bishop 
made his obeisance, the company cheering most vocifer- 
ously, and the Bishop, in return, making his acknow- 
ledgments with all the gravity and nonchalance of a 
veritable Bishop]. 

On the conclusion of the oration the company pro- 
ceeded to sing, in full chorus, the following song * in 

asserted : probably the woolcombers can explain it. No doubt the Bishop 
was a wonderful person, for it was said, and believed, that, by a charm in 
his name, a thorn could be extracted from the flesh, or a bone from the 
throat — it only being necessary to hold the patient,- and say, " Blaize, the 
martyr, and servant of Jesus Christ, commands thee [in the case of a bone 
in the throat] to pass up or down; [in the case of a thorn] to come forth; " 
and the command was instantly effectual. 

* Although I have been at some trouble in order to ascertain the name 
of the tune in which this song is sung, and of its composer, I have been 
unable to arrive at anything satisfactory. My friend, Mr. William Jackson 
of Bradford, writes me thus upon the subject : — " I can give you no inform- 
ation about the tune to which the Bishop Blaize song was sung. I copied 
it down from poor old Jack Harrison's singing, but do not find it in any 
collection of old English airs, nor have I ever found it known out of the 
district. My own opinion is, that it is local, and not very old, say about the 
middle of last century. The verses of the song were written (so I have 
understood) by Mr. Wrather, the father [Qy. brother] of the late Samuel, and 
captain ; and it is not improbable that the tune may have been composed or 
modified by old George Thornberry, who was leading singer at the Church, 
and on whom the epitaph [mentioned ante p. 402] was written. Thornberry, 
from the many anecdotes I have heard of him from my mother, must have been 
a man of considerable genius in musical matters, though somewhat churlish 
about imparting his knowledge to others." 



468 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

honour of Bishop Blaize : — 

" My friends, the day of Bishop Blaize is here — 
The joyful'st day we have in all the year, 
"Wherein all tradesmen may rejoice and sing — 
From a woolcomber to the greatest King. 

When first the art of combing, it was found 
By Bishop Blaize — through England it did sound, 
And therefore he shall canonized be, 
Amongst the Saints, to all eternity. 

Ten thousand spinners, and twice ten thousand too, 
. By our brave art have daily work to do ; 
Who from their wheels send forth such pleasant noise, 
In honour of we jolly combing boys. 

Go ! ask the weaver who was the first trade, 
Whose approbation here it may be had — 
For what fine stuffs, or serges, could there be. 
Without the art of combing mystery ? 

Here 's a health unto our masters, we '11 begin, 
And then we '11 drink a health unto the King, 
What one invents the others do support — 
Whilst Indians mourn, we true Britannians sport." 

I have been thus particular in recording and describ- 
ing the Feast in honour of the "immortal" Bishop, 
because I do not think it likely that the proceedings 
here described will ever be repeated, in Masham at least, 
or otherwise perpetuated, except by the aid of these 
pages. Although woolcombing was at one time the 
staple trade of Masham, yet, in consequence of the in- 
troduction of improved machinery for the combing and 
dressing of wool without manual labour, and other causes 
of a private nature, the trade has now ceased to exist in 
the place ; and the wool, which is still bought up in 
large quantities in this neighbourhood, is sent off, in the 
raw and unmanufactured state, to Bradford and other 
towns, without affording any employment to the people 
in this district. 



APPENDIX. 

A. 



CHARTERS AND OTHER EVIDENCES RELATING TO 

MASHAMSHIRE. 



No. 1. 

Grant from King William the Conqueror to Earl Allan, of Earl Edwin's 
Manors and Lands. Date A.D. 1071. 

[a translation]. 
I, William, surnamed the bastard, do give and grant to thee, Alan,* my 
nephew, Earl of Bretagne, and to thy heirs for ever, all the towns and 
lands which lately belonged to Earl Edwyn,| in Yorkshire, with the 
Knights' fees, Churches, and other privileges and customs, in as free and 
honourable a manner as the said Edwyn held them. 
Given from the siege before York. 



No. 2. 
Extract from Domesday Booh, translated by the Rev. Wm. Bawden, so far 
as it relates to the Parish of Masham and neighbourhood. 

Yorkshire. — The land of Earl Alan. 

In Ellintone (Ellington) to be taxed six carucates,| and there may be 
four ploughs. Gospatric§ (two carucates) and Norman (three carucates and 
two oxgangs), and Torchil (six oxgangs) || had three manors there. The 
same Gospatric now has what he had, of the Earl. In the demesne one 

* See ante, p. 209, for an account of Alan Rufus or Fergaunt, the Earl here referred to. 

t See ante, pages 56, 71, 206, and 209, for an account of Earl Edwin here alluded to. 

% A carucate is of uncertain extent, being as much land as one team can plough in the year. 
It varied from 120 to 180 acres. 

§ " G-ospatric -was a noble Saxon, whose lands were not at first seized by the Conqueror : he 
was even received into favour, and, on payment of a large sum of money, was created Count of 
all the Country north of the Tyne ; he appears to have demeaned himself with great servility, 
but all was not sufficient to make William forget that G-ospatric was an Englishman. Within 
less than a year he deprived him of the dignity for which he had paid, and made him no restitu- 
tion. The reason alleged was, that G-ospatric had fought in the defence of York, and taken part 
in the insurrection in which Robert Comine perished. Seized with chagrin and remorse the Saxon 
for ever abandoned his native land, and settled in Scotland, where his descendants long continued 
to dwell in honour and opulence." — Grainge's Nidderdale, p. 72; see also ante, pages 4, 55, 56, 
and 69. 

|| An oxgang is also of uncertain extent, being as much land as an ox can plough in one year 
which is generally taken to be 15 acres, or, as others allege, 20 acres. 



470 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

plough, and three bordars * with one plough. In the rest of the land the 
Earl has six villanes,f with three ploughs. Meadow six acres. The whole 
one mile and a half long and half a mile broad. Value in King Edward's 
time forty shillings, now thirty shillings. — \_Orig., 312, a L] 

In Siwartorp % (Siwarthorp) to be taxed one carucate, and there may be 
one plough. A moiety of this is in land of Massan (Masham). Torchil 
had it, now the Earl, and it is waste. 

In Sudtone (Sutton) to be taxed one carucate, and there may be one 
plough. Norman had a Manor there. Earl Alan now has it, and it is waste. 
The whole half a mile long and half broad. Value in King Edward's time, 
ten shillings. 

In Federbi (Fearby) to be taxed three carucates, and there may be two 
ploughs. Gospatric and Eldred had there two manors. The Earl has them 
now, and Gospatric of him. Eight villanes and one bordar have there two 
ploughs and a half. The whole half a mile long and four quarantens § broad. 
Value in King Edward's time, ten shillings, now sixteen shillings. 

In Hilchcton (Hilton) to be taxed two carucates, and there may be two 
ploughs. Archil |[ had a manor there. Gospatric has now there one plough 
and three villanes and two bordars. The whole half a mile long and half 
broad. Value in King Edward's time, sixteen shillings, now eight shillings. 

In Massan (Masham) to be taxed twelve carucates, and there may be 
eight ploughs. Gospatric had there one manor. Ernegis has now there 
one plough, and ten villanes and three bordars with five ploughs. There is 
a church. 

To this manor belong the berewicks ^[ — Tuislebroc**( — ), three carucates; 
Swinton (Swinton) three carucates and a half; and Sudton (Sutton), one 
carucate — to be taxed seven carucates and a half, and there may be four 
ploughs. They are waste. The whole manor, with the berewicks, one mile 

* A Boarder was a person who held a cottage and a small parcel of land attached to it, upon 
condition that he should supply the lord with poultry and eggs, and other such like provisions for 
his board or entertainment. 

f A Villain was one who held lands by a base or servile tenure, or in villainage. There were 
two Mnds of Villains, viz : Villains regardant, that were annexed to the land ; and Villains in 
gross, or at large, that is, annexed to the person of their lord and transferable by deed from one 
owner to another. These villains could not leave their lord without his permission, and if they 
ran away, or were purloined from him, he could recover them back by action, like beasts or other 
chattels. In later times they became enfranchised by manumission, and in process of time were 
permitted by the lords to enjoy their possessions without interruption in a regular course of de- 
scent, so that in the end the common law gave them title to hold it in spite of the lord's will. 
These villeins generally held their lands agreeably to the custom of the Manor entered in the Rolls of 
the Court Baron. They afterwards were called tenants by copy of Court-roll, and copyholders are 
therefore no other than villeins whose tenure was a copyhold. Lord Macaulay in his " History of 
England," attributes to the influence of the Eoman Catholic religion the extinction of this spe- 
cies of domestic slavery. 

t See ante, pages 53 and 54, as to Siwardthorpe. 

§ A Quaranten is 40 perches. 

|| Archill was one of the great barons who took up arms against William the Conqueror, as 
will be seen ante, p, 57. 

IT A Berewick is a village or hamlet belonging to a manor. ' 
** As to Tuiselbroc see ante, p. 53. 



ArPENDIX. 471 

long and one broad. Value in King Edward's time, six pounds, now six- 
teen shillings. 

In Clifton * (Clifton) to be taxed three carucates, and there may be two 
ploughs. Canute had there a manor. Donewald now has there one pl®ugh, 
and three villanes with one plough and a half. The whole half a mile long 
and half broad. Value in King Edward's time, eight shillings, now five 
shillings. 

In Welle (Well) to be taxed eight carucates, and there may be six 
ploughs. Torchil had there a manor. Bernulf has now there two ploughs, 
and six villanes and six bordars with three ploughs. There is a church and 
a priest there. The whole one mile long and one broad. 

To this manor belong the berewicks — Burtone,f (Burton), four carucates. 
Opetone (Upton), four carucates — Alchebi, four carucates, to be taxed to- 
gether twelve carucates, and there may be eight ploughs. There are now 
there twenty six villanes, and four bordars with fourteen ploughs. Mea- 
dow, four acres. Coppice wood. The whole half a mile long and half 
broad. The value of the whole manor was in King Edward's time, forty 
shillings, now sixty shillings. 

In Fredebi (Firby) to be taxed five carucates, and there may be four 
ploughs. Auduid had a manor there : Earl Alan has now there seven vil- 
lanes and three bordars with four ploughs. The whole half a mile long and 
half broad. Value in King Edward's time, ten shillings, now thirteen shil- 
lings.— [Orig. 312. b. i.] 

In Bedale (Bedale) to be taxed six carucates, and there may be four ploughs. 
Tori had there a manor. Bodin now has there two ploughs and seventeen 
villanes and five bordars with five ploughs. A Church and a mill of five 
shillings. Meadow, six acres. The whole one mile long, and half broad. 
Value in King Edward's time, twenty shillings, now thirty shillings. 

In Echescol f (qy. Aiskew) is soke belonging § to Massan (Masham) to 
be taxed ten carucates, and there may be seven ploughs. Earl Alan has 
now there five villanes, and one bordar with three ploughs. Coppice wood. 
The whole one mile long and half broad. 

* Clifton, Well, Firby, Bedale, and Aiskew, are not part of Mashamshire, but are only in- 
troduced here on account of their being in the immediate neighbourhood of, and their evident 
connection -with the place. 

t Burton, it will be seen, was formerly a Berewick or Village, belonging to the township of 
Well. The township of Burton-upon-Yore, although situate within the parish of Masham, does 
not form any part of Mashamshire. It consists now of three distinct manors. The Aldborough 
estate, together with the Greens and Nutwith Cote, are parcel of the manor of Aldborough 
Grange, of which John T. D. Hutton, Esq., is the lord. The Little Burton, or Low Burton es- 
tate, is another manor, of which G-. J. Yarburgh, Esq., of Heslington Hall near York, is the lord ; 
and Great Burton, or High Burton, as it is now called, is another manor, of which James 
Pulleine, Esq., of Clifton Castle, is the lord. 

t The name of this place signifies on the other or opposite side of the water, which answers to 
the description of Aiskew, which is on the opposite side of the water to Bedale. 

§ It would seem from this that Aiskew was formerly in some manner dependant upon the 
manor of Masham, and that its tenants would consequently be required to do suit and service at 
the Court of the Lord of Masham ; for soke, in law, Avas an ancient privilege which a Lord of a 
Manor claims in his Court of holding pleas in causes of debate arising among his tenants and vas- 
sals; and of imposing and levying fines and amercements touching the same. The word is saxon 
and literally signifies cause, contest, and thence right of jurisdiction, &c. 



472 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



No. 3. 
Grant from Earl Alan to the Monks of Fountains relating to Aldburgh.— 
Date between A.D. 1137 and A.D. 1165. 

[translation.} 
Alan, *^ Earl of Brittany and England, to his steward and constable and 
chamberlain and all his barons and men, French and English, greeting. 
Know ye that I, for the soul of my father and my mother, and for myself 
and the Countess Bertha my wife, and for my heirs, have granted in alms ; 
and, for their perpetual benefit, given to the Monks of Fountains, all the 
wood which appertains to Marsam which is on that side of the river Yore 
where Burton stands, to build therewith a certain abbey of their order. And 
on the other side of the aforesaid [river] towards Marsam I grant and give 
to the aforesaid monks, Rumore and Bramley, to the use of the aforesaid 
Abbey, by the name of Aldeburne. These being witnesses, Richard son 
of Eustace Fitz John, Scolland the steward, Ruald the constable, Warin Fitz 
Wymer, Hugh Fitz Jarnagote. 



No. 4. 
Grant from Earl Alan to Roger de Mowbray, of Mashams7iire (without date 
but made beticeen A.D. 1135, and A.D. 1140^. R. Pat., A. 20., H. vi., 
p. 6. 

[translation.] 
Alan, Earl of England and Britain, to all barons of Richemonschire and 
to all his men, French and English, greeting. Know ye, that I have granted 
and by this present charter confirmed to Roger de Molbrai, Massaham, with 
all its appurtenances in wood, and in plain, in meadows, and in pastures, in 
waters, and in mills, in chases, and in warrens f with all its liberties and free 
customs, to hold of me and my heirs, to him and his heirs, as freely, and as 

* This Earl Alan was surnamed " the savage r " and was the son of Earl Stephen, as will be 
seen ante p. 209. He was an active partizan of King Stephen's in his contest with the Empress 
Maud. He committed great spoil at Ripon, upon the demesnes and tenants of the Archbishop of 
York. Notwithstanding his having made this Grant to the Church, he is described as having 
been a most deceitful wicked person. His Countess Bertha, whom he here mentions, was the 
eldest daughter and co-heir of Conan le Grosse. 

f The mention in this early charter of a chase and a icarren^ is somewhat confirmatory of my 
own supposition, that the free chase and free warren of Mashamshire, existed so far back as in the 
Saxon times. It is true that a free warren in Mashamshire was granted, long after this date, viz: 
the 35 Henry HI., A.D. 1250, to John de Wauton, the then lord of Mashamshire, but it is not to be 
taken for granted, that because a free warren was then granted to the lord of the Manor, no rights 
of free warren had previously existed in the place, for these Royal Grants were in former times 
frequently sued for, and granted, as and by way of confirmation only of previously existing rights 
which were claimed by prescription, and to be used as evidence of such rights in case they should 
ever afterwards be called in question by proceedings in Quo Warranto. The words, however, 
" in chases and warrens," may after all have been only used here as general words, so as to include 
rights of free chaeeand free warren, if any such existed, and may not in strictness imply that a 
chace or free warren could have been then claimed. This last observation, however, will not ap- 
ply to the actual mention by name of the " Forest of Masham," in the charter dated A.D. 1259, 
hereinafter referred to. 



APPENDIX. 473 

quietly and as honourably as ever Nigell de Albeni his father better held 
the same of Earl Stephen my father, and by the same service, to wit, by 
one Knight's service, as far as to the bounds of Witton. Because I would 
not that any strife should arise concerning the mortgage * of the same Mas- 
ham which he the same Roger made to me, to wit, for a hundred marks of 
silver, seeing I can claim nothing thereout (except the service aforesaid) 
after the discharging of the aforesaid mortgage. And these are the metes 
of the bounds of Witton and of Massamshire, to wit, where Esewath (Brig- 
with-wath) is on the west part of Witebeck as it flows into lor, and from 
Esewath to Kelgrmebro (Kilgram Howe Grange), and from thence to Deta- 
cher (Charekeld), and from Delacher to Blaypot (Claypit), and from thence 
to Seilekelde (the Well in Nevvstead Pasture), and from thence to Holegill 
(Lambert-gill), on the west part as Macheresgate (Marketgait) ascends be- 
tween two Hole Gills (Lambertgill and Leygill), and from thence to Kemp- 
staines (Castle-hills), and afterwards as the waters separate themselves, some 
of which stretch out to the north towards Witton, and some to the south 
towards Massahamschire, and as the waters separate themselves, on the 
north part of Caderland (Caldberg), and of Burnelneshage (Ellers-hall) as 
far as to the bounds of Coverdale, and to Nidderesho (Myers) to the bounds 
of Ralph the son of Ribald. Witnesses, Scholand the Steward, Ralph the 
son of Ribald, Hugo the son of Gernagan, Hervey the son of Acharius, 
Roger the son of Gien'm, Alan the Butler, Robert the Chamberlain, Copsis 
the son of Archillus, Theobald the Clerk, Samson de Albania Bertram Hagel, 
Adelmus de Aldefield. 

And this to all whom it concerns, we, by these Presents, do make known. 
In testimony whereof, &c. Witness the King at Westminster the 10th day 
of June.f 



No. 5. 
Grant from Roger de Mowbray to the Monhs of Fountains, of Aldburgh 
near Masham. 

[translation]. 
To all the Sons of Holy Mother Church, present and to come, Roger de 
Mowbray, greeting. Know ye that I, for the salvation of the soul of me 
and my wife and my children, and my father and my mother, and all my 
relatives, have given in alms to the Monks of St. Mary of Fountains, 
Aldebargh, as a grange, free and quit from all services and whatsoever ap- 
pertains thereto on that side of the river Yore, in wood and plain and fields 

* The Mortgage here alluded to was in all probability effected by Roger de Mowbray for the 
purpose of enabling him to take one of his expeditions to the Holy Land as a Ctusader, as we 
know from other sources that he borrowed large sums of money for this very purpose. 

t The grantor of this charter was the Earl Alan who was surnamed " the savage," as men- 
tioned in the foot note ante, p. 472. It appears by this charter that Mashamshire had previously 
to this been granted by Earl Alan's father (Earl Stephen) to Nigel de Albini, the father of Roger 
de Mowbray, and that this is merely a confirmation of such previous grant. Samson de Albini 
(one of the witnesses to this and the following charter) was the reetor of the church at Masham, 
as will be seen ante, pp. 319 and 320. 



474 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

and meadows and waters, as my father (Nigel) de Albini formerly gave the 
same to the monks of Pontiniac (Ponthieu ?), and common of pasture on the 
other side of the water, in Swinton, and Rumore, and Nutewith, and on 
the same side the soil of their pool to construct a mill. These being wit- 
nesses, Samson de Albini, Matthias de Rampamme, Ralph de Bellun, 
Walter de Rivere.* 



No. 6. 
Extract from Vol. v., p. 569, of Dugdale's " Monasticon Ajiglicanum," rela- 
lating to Grants from Roger de Moicbray to the 3Ion7cs of Jerveaux. 

[translation]. 
The Lord Roger de Mowbray, our founder, hearing that certain Monks 
of Savigny had begun to build an Abbey anew, [and] desiring to share in 
their prayers and spiritual benefits, as in those of other religious persons, 
with great piety and generosity of soul, gave unto the same brother Peter, 
land pasture and wood out of his demesne of Masham by this deed. 

DEED OF ROGER DE MOWBRAY. 

Roger de Mowbray to all his servants and men of Yorkshire, French 
and English, greeting. Know ye that I have given and granted to God 
and St. Mary of Charity and to Peter the Monk and his brethren of the 
Abbey upon the river Yore, all the land and all the wood as the way goeth 
from Brigwath (Brigwith wath) unto Whiteberchvade (Whitebeck wath), 
and beside this [liberty] to fish in Higlamore (Eelmire-dub), and the warren 
and pasture of my whole wood. And I will that they have this land up to 
the Yore as free and quit as land can be, freely and in alms. Witness, Roger 
Abbot of Byland.f 



No. 7. 
An Extent in the 30th year of the reign of King Henry II. [a.d. 1183]. 

[translation]. 
Concerning the Carucates of Lands in Richmondshire, and how many 

* This grant appears to be merely a confirmation of a grant previously made by Nigel de 
Albini to Fountains Abbey. It will be seen that this charter grants to the monks of Fountains, 
common of pasture in Swinton, Roomer, and Nutwith, and not the land itself. I remember when 
Nutwith and Roomer common was about being converted into a stinted pasture as it now is, the 
late James Henry D'Arcy Hutton, Esq., of Aldborough Hall, in laying claim to Nutwith and 
Roomer as belonging to Burton people exclusively, objected to all the claims put in by the several 
other freeholders throughout the parish. The freeholders, however, fully established their claims 
by evidence of immemorial usage. A reference to this charter will shew how such claim has 
originated, and at same time how absurd and unfounded it was. 

It will be seen that mention is made of a mill which was about to be constructed at this early 
period. 

t The land here granted by Roger de Mowbray was then part of Masham Parish. By this 
grant the boundaries between Masham parish and the parish of East Witton became altered, and 
the consequence in after times was, that it gave rise to litigation, as mentioned ante, pages 22, 2-3, 
105, and 120. 

Higlamore, mentioned in this charter, is what we now know as " Eelmire-dub." 



APPENDIX. 



475 



there are in every Wapentake, by [their] Vills, in the 30th year of the said 
King Henry II. 

Carucates in Hang Wapentake : — 



Ellyngton 


6 Carucates. 


Twisebrok* . 


3 Carucates 


Swarthorp * . . 


1 Carucate. 


Swynton 


.. 3§ do. 


Sutton 


. . 1 do. 


Clifton 


..3 do. 


Fetherby 


. . 3 Carueates. 


Welle 


. . 8 do. 


Ilketon 


. . 2 do. 


Burton 


. . 4 do. 


Masham 


.. 12 do. 


Hopeton 


.'. 4 do. 



Fine 44th 
Henry 3rd 
York No. 3 



No. 8. 

Fine between John de Wanton, Plaintiff, and Roger de Mowbray, Deforciant, 

relating to the Forest of Mashamshire. Dated 44 Hen. III., A.D. 1259. 

[translation.] 

• | Between John de Wauton,f Plaintiff, and Roger de Mowbray, 
is. j Deforcient, reciting previous fine between Roger de Mowbray, 
(great grandfather of the aforesaid Roger) and Nigel his son, Plaintiffs, and 
John de Wauton (great grandfather of the aforesaid John) of bounds of Mass- 
ham, and Malesard [Kirkby-Malzeard] whereof the aforesaid John is now 
deforced) whereby the aforesaid Roger grants to the said John all the forest 
of Masshani, % by the bounds § underwritten, to wit, from lor [Yore] unto 

* It appears by this document that the Tillages of Siwardthorpe and Tuiselbroc (which are 
mentioned hi the Domesday Survey) were still in existence'at this date (A.D. 1183). This, how- 
ever, is the last mention we have of them. They were probably altogether destroyed by the Scots 
in one of their many incursions into these parts. In the year 1314 the fatal battle of Bannock- 
burn was fought, in which, the Scotch historian Buchanan, says, that 50,000 Englishmen were 
slain upon the spot ; and the Scots afterwards entered England and laid waste the country with 
' fire and sword. The people of Ripon and Northallerton each paid the Scots 1000 marks to spare 
those towns. The towns of SMpton and Knaresborough were however burnt. 

t The John de Wauton here mentioned, was the Sir John de Wauton mentioned ante, p. 219 
(the son of John cle Wauton, who died A.D. 1230). The object of this fine is merely to confirm the 
title to Sir John de Wauton. 

J The Forest of Masham and Mashamshire it will be seen is here, as in several other early char- 
ters, expressly mentioned by name— although it is true that nine years previous to the date of this 
charter a grant of a Free-warren had been made to John de Wauton, the then Lord of Mashamshire. 
The calling of it here " a Forest " cannot have had any reference to that charter, for a Free- warren 
and a Forest are two very different things, as these early lords very well knew. I would espe- 
cially direct the reader's attention to the last clause in this charter which provides for the case of 
"beasts " raised in Masham running into the Kirkby-Malzeard liberty, and authorizes the Lord of 
Mashamshire to follow such beasts into such liberty and to take and chase them. These words 
it should be observed are wholly inapplicable to a Free-warren, but are applicable to a Forest or 
Free-chace — see my observations on this subject ante, pages 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47. 

§ In reference to the boundaries mentioned in this charter, I may mention that it appears'by 
" Coke's Entries 565, and 566 " that some proceedings on a Writ of Rationabilibus Divisis were 
taken in the 10 and 11 Queen Eliz. A.D. 1568., in a suit between Sir Christopher Danby, Knt., and 
Edward Lord Derby, respecting the boundaries of the manors of Kirkby-Malzeard and Masham, 
and that the dispute was settled by an award, dated the 5th October, 12 Eliz. A.D. 1570, made by 
Sir Richard Sherbourne, Knight., Wm. Tankard, Esq., Robt. Sherburne, Esq., and Wm. Wy- 
cliffe, Esq., whereby it was settled that the boundaries should be as follows-: — " From the Weste 
end of Nutwith and so upon Sinderhowe, and from thence to a hill next toward the south of Roger 
Crosse, as the water doth descend towarde Massham otherwise called the Holestone, and from 



476 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Synderho [Sinder-howe] so that Notewyt [Nutwith] shall remain in com- 
mon between the townships of Masseham and Malleshard [Kirkby-Mal- 
zeard] and from Sinderho unto the hill which is nearest towards the south of 
Roger's Cross [afterwards called New Cross] as the water floweth down from 
thence towards Masseham, and so unto the hill above Pylesden [Pillisden] 
and thence by the top of the hill unto Frosthrynldesdo [Throstle- how] and 
from Trosthrynldesdo by the top of the hill unto the bounds of Ralph Fitz 
Ranulph [Coverdale] and thence unto the bounds of Wytton [East Witton]* 
as that which is appurtenant to the same lands which the same John holds 

thence to the toppe of a hill called Pyllesden, otherwise called Wolstonbaurgh alias Wolstock- 
baurghe." It also appears by an ancient [record without date (but supposed to have been'made 
about A.D. 1600) found amongst the Court Eolls of the adjoining manor of Kirkby-Malzeard, that 
the boundaries of that manor were found to be as follows : — The bounders of the manor of Kirkby- 
Malzeard as they were settled by Sir John Saville, Mr. Pepper, Surveyor of the Court of Wards, 
Mr. Jackson, the Queen's Attorney, and Mr. Bland, Justice of the Peace, Commissioners, bet. the 
Eight Honble. William Earl of Derby and Stephen Prockter, Esq., by virtue of a Commission sit- 
ten upon at Kirkby-Malzeard , the 30th of August, and so continued until the 3rd September, touch- 
ing the Royalties of Kirkbyshire."--"1.— From Wools Wath to Frost Stone. 2. -Thence to Headlesse 
on Nutwith Edge. 3. — Thence to the Crosse at the West end of Nutwith. 4. — Thence to Sinder- 
how Hill. 5. — Thence to Snout Eller Cross. 6. — Thence to Cattgill Head Cross or Roger Cross. 
7. — Thence to the Writhen Stone. 8. — Thence to Hambleton Hill. 9. — Thence to Kettlestang 
Cross. 10. — Thence to Dowbergill. 11. — Thence to High Cross on Dallow-moor. 12. — Thenceto 
Meer Syke. 13. — Thence to Skellbeck Head, and so along Skell leaving out the scite of the Mo- 
nastery. 14. — Thence to Hellwath. 15. — Thence to Baron-way. 18. — Thence to Studley Stone. 
17. — Thence to Clotherholme Cross and Ridley Causeway. 18.— Thence to Calf Gill. 19. — Thence 
to Mow r bray Wath and Monkstone moor. 20. — Thence to the River Ure — Woolswath." 

* As to the boundaries between Mashamshire and East Witton — In the year 1608, disputes 
having arisen as to these boundaries, between Edward Lord Bruce, and Christopher Danby, Esq., 
the former filed a bill in the Rolls Court against the latter, whereupon the matter in dispute was 
referred to Sir Thomas Fairfax, Knt., and Richard Hutton and John Jackson, Esqrs., who accord- 
ingly made their award (and which award was afterwards confirmed in Chancery, on the 28th of 
January, 1608) to this effect. — " We order that the said Edward Lord Bruce shall enjoy to him and 
his heirs all that parcel of ground called Witton-fell, by the known bounds thereof without the let 
or interruption of the said Christopher Danby or his heirs, and that his Lordship and his heirs be 
at liberty to enclose the same in severalty for that we conceive the same has been used as a stinted 
pasture by the tenants of East Witton : And likewise we think it fit and do order that the said 
Edward Lord Bruce shall enjoy to him and his heirs a house and certain enclosures or approve- 
ments called Sowden Beck, otherwise Sowden beck Closes, or Pasture called Ramsey Pasture ap- 
proved and taken off the common, 300 acres of moor to be approved and taken off the Common 
next and most conveniently adjoining to Hammer-Wood, and his Lordship to enjoy the same to 
him and his heirs against the said Christopher Danby and his heirs, and all persons claiming un- 
der them, and because it was intended that the 300 acres, together with Hammers and Ramsey, 
and such other grounds as his Lordship should think fit were to be imparked and inclosed for the 
preservation of deer. We think it fit and do order that his Lordship shall maintain the pale and 
fence of the said park in such sufficient manner without Taltries, as the deer in the chase may be 
kept out. And we order and think fit that all the said grounds that be enclosed as aforesaid and 
all other grounds severals and inclosures of his Lordship in Kilgram, Jerveausc, and East Witton, 
shall from henceforth for ever be discharged of all liberty of chase against the said Christopher 
Danby and his heirs, saving that it may be lawful for the said Christopher Danby and his heirs by 
their keeper or servant (if any) of the deer come within the said grounds, severals, and inclosures 
other than the park aforesaid, to tuft the ground and to shake off his or their bounds to bring 
them out. Likewise we order and think fit that the residue of the said moors betwixt the said in- 
closures and Colsterdale shall from henceforth be open and be used as now they are and heretofore 
have been : And we further order and think fit that the said Christopher Danby and his heirs 
shall hold and enjoy Colsterdale against the said Edward Lord Bruce and his heirs, for that it did 
appear that the same did belong to the said Christopher Danby." 

Another dispute having arisen as to the directions in the above award, that the moors be- 



APPENDIX. 477 

of fee of the same Roger in Massamshire, to have and to hold to the same 
John and his heirs of the same Roger, and his heirs for ever ; so that if the 
said John or his heirs, or any freeman of his household are with their dogs 
and harriers at Massham, and the said dogs and harriers run from the afore- 
said forest of the same John to the forest of the aforesaid Roger, the said 
John and his heirs or the aforesaid household, shall have the chace of beasts 
raised in his aforesaid forest of Masham, to take and chace the said beasts 
without impediment, &c. 



No. 9. 
Grant of the manor of Masham from Sir John de Wauton, to his son John 
de Wauton, dated before A.D. 1230. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

Know all men present and to come that I, John de "Wauton, Knt.,* 
have given and granted and by this my present writing confirmed and en- 
tirely quit-claimed for ever to John de Wauton my son, all my Manor of 
Masham with all its appurtenances to wit, the capital messuage with the 
buildings, with all the demesne lands tilled and untilled, woods, moors, 
plains, meadows, feedings, pastures, chaces, warrens, piscarys, turbarys, 
streams, ponds, mills, homages, fealtys, villains, with villenages and with all 
their chattels and sequels, and with all other things whatsoever belonging 
to the aforesaid manor, to have and to hold the aforesaid manor of Masham, 
with all its appurtenances before named and not named to the said John de 
Wauton my son, and his heirs or assigns of the chief lord of the fee, freely, 
quietly, and wholly, well, peaceably and hereditarily for ever, doing there- 
fore to the chief lords of the fee, the services therefore due and accustomed : 

twixt the inclosures and Colsterdale should be open and be used as they had theretofore been, such 
dispute was by a bond made by William Danby, Esq. (the father of the last William Danby) 
and Thomas Bruce, Earl of Ailesbury, dated the 28th February, 1778, referred to the arbitration 
and award of Peter Johnson, Esq., of York, who by his award dated the 9th Nov. 1779, awarded 
and finally determined that the boundary of the manors of East Witton and Masham as against 
each other in and upon the moors ordered by the said former award to lie open, is in a line begin- 
ning at a stone or place at the east side of the moors known by the name of Tranmire, and passing 
from thence westward and directly across the same open moors to the north side of a place called 
Turn Lodge, and from thence to the brow of the hill called Brownrigg, and from thence to a place 
situate on the western side of the same open moors called or known by the name of Kempstones, 
where the said boundary terminates : And the arbitrator did thereby further award and finally de- 
termine that so much and such parts of the said moors by the said former award ordered to lie 
open as aforesaid, as lie and are situate on the north or northerly side of such boundary so thereby 
described as aforesaid are wastes belonging to the manor of East Witton, and not to the manor of 
Masham aforesaid : And that so much and such parts of the said moors by the same former 
award ordered, are ordered to lie open as aforesaid, as lie and are situate on the south or southerly 
side of such boundary so hereby described as aforesaid are wastes belonging to the manor of Mass- 
ham, and not to the manor of East Witton aforesaid. 

I have already elsewhere stated, that the ancient Parish of Masham formerly extended fur- 
ther in the direction of East Witton than it does at present, and we here see by the words in italics 
that the Forest, or Free-chase of Mashamshire, formerly included in its bounds Kilgram, Jerveaux, 
and East Witton. 

* The Sir John de Wauton, the grantor in this grant, was the son of Gilbert de Walton or 
Wauton, as mentioned ante p. 219. 



478 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

and I, the aforesaid John de Wauton, Knt., and my heirs or assigns, will for 
ever warrant to the said John de Wauton my son, his heirs or assigns, 
against all Nations as well Christians as Jews, the aforesaid manor of 
Masham, with all its appurtenances and all other things before named and 
not named as is aforesaid : And that this my gift, grant, and confirmation 
of this, my present writing and release, may be of continual force, I have to 
these presents set my seal — these being witnesses — S'rs Brian the son of 
Alan, Ranulph of Penill, Hugh the son of Henry Coald of Richmond, 
William of Scargill, Hugh of Ask, Knt., Askik of Clesby, Roger Tysel, 
William Scrop, John of Rich, Richard of Penton, Hugh de Langton, 
Robert de Moncton, and others. 



No. 10. 
Extract taken out of the Exchequer as to the lands in Masham, with Little or 
Low Burton, Healey, and Sutton, Ellingstring, Llton, Ellington, Ald- 
burgh, and Fearby, in the 13th Edwd. I, a.d. 1284. 

[translation.] 

Massham with Little Burton. — There are 27 acres [carucates] of land 
there and they answer for one Knight's fee, and there are 6 carucates of land 
there whereof the Master of the Knights Templars in England, holds two 
bovates of land in pure alms, and the remainder is holden of John de Wau- 
ton, and the same John, of Roger de Mowbray ; and the same Roger, of 
John de Brittany ; and the same John, of the King, and no service is there- 
fore performed. 

Helayghe and Sutton. — There are 5 carucates of land there which are 
holden of John de Wauton, and the same John, of Roger de Mowbray ; and 
the same Roger, of John de Brittany ; and the same John, of the King, 
whereof 4 carucates are in Heley, and 1 carucate in Sutton. 

Swynton. — There are six carucates of land there, whereof twelve 
[make &c] of which four carucates are holden of Ralph de Normanville, and 
the same Ralph holds the remainder of Hugh Fitz Henry, that is to say — 
two carucates of land and the same Hugh, of John de Wauton ; and the 
same John, of the Earl ; and the Earl of the King, and there is no rent [pay- 
able to the Wapentake.] 

Ellingstring. — There is one carucate of land there, whereof the Abbot of 
Joreval holds one bovate of land of Walter de Lambert, and the same Wal- 
ter holds the same and four other bovates of land of John de Wauton, and 
the same John de Wauton holds the remainder of Roger de Mowbray, and 
the same of the Earl, and the Earl of the King, and no rent [is payable] for 
a fine to the Wapentake aforesaid. 

Ilkton. — There are two carucates of land there, which the Abbot of 
Fountains, the Master of the blessed Mary Magdalen, and Robert Waddes- 
ley, hold together by equal portions of John de Waaton, and the same of 
Mowbray, &c, as above, 

Ellington. — There are six carucates of land there which Richard le 






APPENDIX. 479 

Scrope, Knight, holds of John de Wauton, and the same John of Mowbray, 
&c, as above. 

Aldeborough. — There are three carucates of land there of the fee of 
Massham ; which the Abbot of Fountains holds of John de Wauton, and the 
same of Mowbray, &c. 

Feyrbye. — There are three carucates of land there of which Elias Fytch- 
erby holds two carucates of John de "Wauton ; and the same John, of Avice 
Marmyon ; and the same Avice, of John de Brittany ; and the same of the 
King ; and the aforesaid Elias holds one carucate of land of Gilbert de Clyf- 
ton, and the same Gilbert of the heirs of Thornton Steward, and the same of 
John de Brittany, and the same of the King : and the rent by the year is 
10s. 2d., but whether as a fine to the Wapentake, or to the Sheriff, no men- 
tion is made. Therefore let it be enquired of. 



No. 11. 
Inquisition made of the Fees in Richmondshire, taken the loth Edivd. I, A.D. 
1286. 

[translation.] 

Inquisitions made of the Fees in Richmondshire before John Kirkeby, 
Treasurer of the Lord Edward, son of King Henry, in the 15th year of the 
reign of the same King, as appeareth on the Roll of Fees of the same year in 
the County of York ; and in the Bag of Fees being in the custody of the 
Treasurer's Remembrancer in York. 

ILKETON. 

There are three carucates there which are holden of Hugh Fitz Henry ; 
and the same Hugh holdeth of John de Wauton ; and the same John, of 
Roger de Mowbray ; and Roger, of the Earl ; and the Earl of the King. 

SWYNTON. 

There are six caracutes of land there whereof twelve make [a Knight's 
fee] &c. — of which four carucates are holden of Ralph de Normanville ; and 
the same Ralph holdeth the residue of Hugh Fitz Henry ; and the same 
Hugh, of John de Wauton ; and John, of the Earl ; and the Earl of the 
King. 

HELHE AND SUTTON. 

There are in the same Vills there, five carucates of land which are holden 
of John de Wauton, and the same John [holdeth] of Roger Mowbray ; and 
Roger, of the Earl ; and the Earl of the King. 

ELYNSTRYNGE. 

There is one carucate of land there — of which the Abbot of Joreval hold- 
eth one bovate of land of Walter le Latryn ; and the same Walter holdeth 
the same bovate and three other bovates of John de Wauton ; and the same 



480 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Jolin holdeth the residue of Roger Mowbray ; and the same Roger of the 
Earl ; and the Earl of the King. 

ELYNGTON. 

There are six carucates of land there — of which three carucates are hold- 
en of John de "VVauton : the Abbot of Joreval likewise holdeth of the same 
John, and renders by the year 10s. ; and the same John of Roger Mowbray, 
and the same Roger of the Earl ; and the Earl of the King. 

MASHAM AND LITTLE BURTON. 

There are twenty-seven carucates of land in the same Vills, and they an- 
swer for one Knight's Fee ; also, there are six carucates of land there — of 
which the Master of the Knight's Templars in England, holdeth two bovates 
of land in pure alms, and the residue is holden by John de Wauton ; and the 
same John [holdeth] of Roger Mowbray ; and the same Roger of the Earl ; 
and the Earl of the King. 

FEGHERBY. 

There are three carucates of land there which Elias de Fetherby holdeth ; 
two carucates of John de Wauton (whereof 9 carucates make one knight's 
fee) and the same John of Avice Marmyon ; and the same Avice of John 
Earl of Richmond ; and the same Earl of the King : also the aforesaid Elias 
holdeth one carucate of land of Gilbert de Clifton ; and the same Gilbert of 
the heirs of Thornton Steward ; and the same heirs of the Earl : and the 
Earl of the King : and they render by the year 10s. ; but whether it ought 
to be rendered towards the Fine of the Wapentake, or for the Sheriff's aid, 
there is no mention in the Inquisitions. 

BURTON-UPON-YORE. 

There are 4 carucates of land there, whereof 14, &c, which Richard of 
Great Burton holdeth of Mary de Neville, and the same Mary of the Earl, 
and the Earl of the King. 



No. 12. 
An Inquisition post mortem taken the 29th Edwd. I, A.D. 1300, n. 47, as to 
the manors, 8fc, held by Roger de Mowbray e, by which it teas found that 
he was possessed of (among other manors), 

MASHAM MANOR. 

No. 13. 
An Inquisition post mortem taken in the 32 Edwd. I, A.D. 1303, No. 33, as to 
the manors which were held by John de Wauton and Margaret his wife, 
by which it was found that they were possessed of the following : — 

Waltham, Bernolby and Wade, 30s. of Rents and a Toft . . Lincoln. 

North Pikenham manor, extent . . . . . . . . Norfolk. 



APPENDIX. 



481 



Masliam Manor — extent with its hamlets, Kirkehy-Malsart, suit ^ 

of Court 
Ellingstringe, a member of the said manor of Masham — half a 

carueate of land 
Ellington, a member of the same manor of Masham — ten bovates, 

&c. 
South Leghton Hamlet a member of the said manor of Masham, 

twenty -four acres of meadow, wood, &c. 
Colsterdale, two parts of a mine of coal — Masham a moor 
Pott- Wood, Housebote, and Haybote appertaining to the manor 

of Masham there . . . . . . . . . . J 



York. 



No. 14. 
Extract from Roberts' Extracts from the Fine Rolls, v. 1, p. 256, m. 7. 

[translation.] 

York. — The Lord the King hath committed to John Fitz Philip, for the fine 
of 200 marks which he hath made with him, the manor of Masham, with the 
appurtenances which is of the inheritance of John de Wauton, son and heir 
of John de Wauton ; and for which the aforesaid John Fitz Philip had for- 
merly rendered to the Lord the King, £40 by the year, to have and to 
hold to him, or to whomsoever he may will to assign the same manor, until 
the lawful age of the heirs of the aforesaid John. And the aforesaid John 
will render to the exchequer the 200 marks aforesaid, at the terms under- 
written — that is to say, at the exchequer of St. Michael in the 18th year, &c, 
50 marks, and at the exchequer of Easter in the 19th year, &c, 50 marks, 
and at the exchequer of St. Michael in the same year, 50 marks, and at the 
exchequer of Easter in the 20th year, &c., 50 marks, and he hath letters pa- 
tent thereof. Witness, the King at Kennington, the 25th day of April. 



No. 15. 

Wards of the Castle of Richmond during the time of King Richard II, other- 
ivise concerning the Fees aforesaid according to an Inquisition made in the 
time of King Richard II. 



October ( Of John Fitz Philip \ 

and ] for one Fee in > Half a Mark. 
November ( Mashamshire. J 



The Lord de Mowbray 
holdeth 
[the same.] 



No. 16. 

Obligation from Hugh de Hepeham, Lord of Masham, to Geffrey le Scrop, 
for paying to him 40s. yearly, for the term of his life, out of his manor of 
Masham, dated the 8th Ed. II, a.d. 1314. 

HH 



482 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

[translation.] 
To all who shall see or hear this writing Hugh de Hepeham,* Lord of 
Masham, greeting in the Lord. Know ye that I am bounden and by these 
presents obliged to Geoffrey le Scrop, in 40s. sterling yearly, to be received 
for the whole life of the said Geoifrey out of my manor of Masham, to whose 
hands soever it shall come. A moiety, to wit, at the feast of Pentecost, and 
the other moiety at the feast of St. Martin in the winter, by equal portions ; 
and I oblige me and my heirs and my manor aforesaid, faithfully to make 
the same payment at the said terms. In testimony whereof to the present 
writing I have affixed my seal. Given at London, on Thursday, next after 
the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the 8th year of 
the reign of King Edward, son of King Edward. 



No. 17. 
In the time of Edwd. II, the following ivere Lords of the several members of 
Mashamshire, viz: — Of Masham, Hugh de Hopham ; of Burton-upon- 
Yore, Roger Cysell ; of Sivinton, Ralph de Normanuille ; of Ilketon, 
John Waxwand, and the Abbot of Fountains, and the Master of Magdalen 
Hospital ; of Helagh-icith- Sutton, Hugh de Hopham, and John de Hen- 
ton ; of Feglierbg, Reginald de Clyfton, and John Alward ; of Flling- 
ton-iuith-Elling string, the Abbot of Jerveaux, and the heirs of Richard 
Cysell. 



No. 18, 

Deed from John de TVawton to Richard de Welles, relating to the manor of 
Masham, dated 2nd Fdiv. Ill, A.D. 1328. 

[translation.] 
To all the faithful in Christ to whom the present writing shall come, Joan 
daughter and heiress of Sir John de "Wanton, greeting in the Lord. Know 
ye that I, in pure widowhood and my lawful power, have granted that 
the 3rd part of the manor of Massham with its appurtenances which the lady 
Joan de St. Clare holdeth in dower of my inheritance for the term of her life;- 
and also the 3rd part of two parts of the manor aforesaid, which the Lady Mar- 
garet de Wauton my lady and mother [holdeth] together with all other lands 
and tenements which the same Lady Margaret holdeth in dower, and in allow- 
ance of dower for the term of her life in the same manor of my inheritance 
(and which third part of the manor aforesaid, with its appurtenances after 
the death of the aforesaid Joan de St. Clare, and also the third part of two 
parts of the manor aforesaid, together with all other lands and tenements 
which the said Lady Margaret my mother, holdeth in the aforesaid manor, 
after the death of the aforesaid Lady Margaret ought to revert to me, the 
aforesaid Joan de Wauton and my heirs) shall entirely and without any 

* Hugh de Hopham had become Lord of Masham by his marriage of Joan de Wauton, the 
daughter of Sir John de Wauton, as will be seen ante p, 220. 



I 



APPENDIX. 483 

withholding remain to Richard de Welles, his heirs and assigns. To have 
and to hold to him and his heirs of the chief lords of the same fee, by the 
services therefore due and accustomed for ever. Moreover, I, the aforesaid 
Joan and my heirs will warrant, acquit, and defend the aforesaid the 3rd 
part of the manor aforesaid, when (after the death of the aforesaid Lady 
Joan) it shall fall in — and also the 3rd part of two parts of the manor afore- 
said, when (after the death of the aforesaid Lady Margaret) they shall fall 
in to the aforesaid Richard, his heirs and assigns, against all men for ever. 
In testimony whereof, to this present writing I have affixed my seal. These 
■being witnesses — Sir Walter de Huggeford, Knt., Sir Hugh de Mortimer, 
Knt., Hugh de Dodemonfrom, John de Upton, William de la Hull of 

Urnege, and many others-. Given at on Sunday, next after the 

feast of the Purification of the Blessed Mary, in the 2nd year of the reign of 
King Edward, after the Conquest the 3rd. 



No. 19, 

Indenture between Richard de Well, and Sir Geffrey le Scroj), dated 2 Eicd. 
III., A.D. 1328. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

This Indenture between Richard de Well, and Sir Geffrey le Scrop, wit- 
nesseth that the said Richard, and Dame Joan daughter of Sir John de Wau- 
ton, shall come to Westminster upon the 8th of St. Michael next ensuing, 
and shall there secure over to the said Sir Geffrey by a fine or in some otter 
manner the manor of Masham with all its appurtenances in demesne, seig- 
nory, and reversion in the manner following — that is to say, that the said 
Dame Joan may have and hold the said manor with all its appurtenances as 
is above, and to have and to hold for her life without being impeached for 
waste, and that the said Sir Geffrey and his heirs may fully have the said 
manor with all its appurtenances as is above, and to hold to them and their 
heirs for ever after the death of the said Dame Joan : and in consideration 
of this reversion in the manor aforesaid, the said Sir Geffrey shall give to 

the said Richard and Dame Joan twenty ■ of land in Hertfordshire 

or elsewhere, of the same value, in a place which they shall think convenient 
to hold to them and their heirs for ever : and that he shall secure to them by 
a fine or in some other manner, at the same time that the manor of Masham 
shall be secured to him as is above expressed ; and if the land be not agree- 
able to them, the said Sir Geffrey shall give them 400 marcs in money, and 
shall also pay to the said Richard and Dame Joan, 200 marcs at the time 
above mentioned: and the said Sir Geffrey shall procure to the said Dame Joan 
the release and quit claim of Robert de Wauton, to the manor of what in de- 
pendant of him and his heirs for ever. And to the fulfilling and accomplish- 
ing these covenants legally and without fraud, the said Sir Geffrey and 
Richard have sworn upon the Holy Evangelists, and have to these Inden- 
tures interchangeably set their seals. 



484 MASHAM AND MASHAMSIIIRE. 

Dated at Clifton-upon-Yore, on the Tuesday next after the festival of the 
Decollation of St. John the Baptist, in the 2nd year of the reign of King 
Edward the 3rd, after the Conquest. 



No. 20. 

Indenture obliging Sir Jeffrey le Scrop to grant the manor of Masham to the 
late wife of Hugh de Hopham for her life, after he shall have received 
the same by grant from Richard de Well, dated 2 Ed. III., A.D. 1328. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

This Indenture tripartite betwixt Sir Geffrey le Scrop, Richard de "Well, 
and Joan who was the wife Hugh de Hepham, witnesseth that whereas the 
said Sir Geffrey is obliged by recognisance entered into before the King to 
the said Richard in 2000 marcs to be paid at the feast of Easter next ensu- 
ing, the said Richard wills and grants for himself and for his heirs and ex- 
ecutors, that if the said Sir Geffrey after the said Richard shall have released 
and given up for himself and for his heirs to the said Sir Geffrey and his 
heirs, all the right and claim which he hath or shall have in the two parts 
of the two parts of the manor of Masham, with its appurtenances, and shall 
have granted to the said Sir Geffrey and his heirs, the reversion of the third 
part of the manor aforesaid, which Dame Joan de Saint Cler holds in dower 
for the term of her life, and the reversion of the third part of the two parts 
of the said manor which Dame Margaret, who was the wife of Sir John de 
Wanton, holds in dower for the term of her life ; and that the said Joan who 
was the wife of Hugh de Hopham, hath granted and released to the said Sir 
Geffrey and his heirs, all the right and claim which she hath or shall have 
in the manor aforesaid, in demesne and in reversions, with all its appurte- 
nances, and this by fines levied in the Court of the King upon the eighth of 
St. Hillary next ensuing or before. That then the said Sir Geffrey by a fine 
upon the fifteenth of St. Hillary next ensuing, shall grant to the said Dame 
Joan late wife of Hugh de Hopham, the said manor of Masham in demesne and 
in reversion as is above expressed, to hold for the life of the said Joan as fully 
as the said Sir Geffrey receives it from the gift and grant of the said 
Richard ; and the said Richard wills and grants for himself, his heirs and 
executors, that if the said Sir Geffrey perform the covenants in form and 
manner above mentioned, that then the said recognisance of 2000 marcs lose 
its force and be of none effect ; and if the said Sir Geffrey after the fines 
passed to him in form above said, perform not the covenants above said in 
form and manner above, that then the said recognisance be in its full force 
and not otherwise. In testimony whereof to one part of this Indenture, 
being in the hands of the said Sir Geffrey, the said Joan, late wife of Hugh 
de Hopham and Richard, have set their seals, and to the two parts of the 
same Indenture being in the hands of the said Joan and Richard, the said 
Sir Geffrey hath set his seal. Dated at Westminster on the Friday next 
after the Feast of St. Dionysius, in the 2nd year of the Reign of King Ed- 
ward the third, after the Conqueror. 



i 



APPENDIX. 485 



No. 21. 

Deed between Joan de Wauton and Sir Geoffrey le Scrope, dated 3rd Edw. 
III., a.d. 1329. 

[translation.] 
This Indenture betwixt Dame Joan, daughter and heiress of Sir John de 
Wauton, late Lord of Masham, on the one part ; and Sir Geffrai le Scrop, che- 
valier, on the other part. Witnesseth that whereas Richard de Welles hath 
given and granted to the said Sir Geffrai, the manor of Masham with all its 
appurtenances, together with the reversion of all the lands and tenements 
with their appurtenances, which Dame Joan de Saint Cler and Dame Marga- 
ret, who was the wife of the said Sir John, held in dower for the term of their 
lives severally within the said manor, to have and to hold to the said Sir 
Geffrai and his heirs for ever, since which gift and grant the aforesaid Dame 
Joan daughter and heiress of the said Sir John — granted, released, and for 
ever quitted claim to all her right of the said manor, as well in demesne, 
seignory, as in reversion, with all their appurtenances, to the said Sir Gef- 
frai and to his heirs for ever, independent of the said Dame Joan daughter 
and heiress of the said Sir John, and of her heirs for ever. And during the 
seizineof the said Sir Geffrai of the said manor, the said Dame Joan de Saint 
Cler is dead, by which the tenements which the said Dame Joan held for the 
term of her life, are come into the possession of the said Sir Geffrai as his 
right and reversion belonging to him, the said Sir Geffrai hath given and 
granted, and by this Indenture confirmed, to the aforesaid Dame Joan 
daughter and heiress of the said Sir John, all the manor of Masham with all 
its appurtenances, franchises, and free-chaces * as fully in demesne, seignory, 
and in reversion after the death of the said Dame Margaret as the said Sir 
Geffrai received it by the gift and grant of the aforesaid Richard de Welles, 
or by the grant of the aforesaid Dame Joan daughter and heiress of the said 
Sir John, to have and to hold to the aforesaid Dame Joan daughter and heir- 
ess of the said Sir John for the term of her life, of the aforesaid Sir Geffrai 
and his heirs by the services of two Enmervillons — that is to say, one 
Fornie and one Trecelet to be paid annually by those who shall be heirs 
within the seignory of the said Dame Joan within Mashamschire : and doing 
for the said Sir Geffrai and his heirs to the chief lords of the fee the services 
due and accustomed ; and if it so fall out that there be no Enmervillons within 
the said seignory that then the said Dame Joan be released from the rent of 
the Enmervillons for that year and for such years in which there shall be 
no heirs : and after the death of the said Dame Joan daughter and heiress of 
the said Sir John, the aforesaid manor of Masham with all its appurtenances, 
franchises, and free-chaces, fully in demesne, seignory, and reversion shall re- 
turn to the said Sir Geffrai and his heirs to hold independant of the heirs of 
the aforesaid Dame Joan for ever. In testimony whereof as well the afore- 
said Dame Joan daughter and heiress of the said Sir John, as the said Sir 

* It will be observed that even in this early deed, dated in 1329, the Franchise and Free Chace 
is expressly mentioned and granted. 



486 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Geffrai have to these Indentures interchangeably set their seals. These 
being witnesses — Henry le Scrop, Thomas de Colville, Ranp. de Normanvill, 
John de Vaxand, and Chevaliers Simn. de Stotevill, Randolf Pygot, John de 
Burton, Roger de Schirwode, William de Pontfreiht (clerk), and others. 
Dated at Masham, on Thursday next before the Feast of Saint Gregory, 
in the 3rd year of the Reign of King Edward the 3rd, after the Conqueror. 



No. 22. 

Fine between Geoffrey U Scrop, Plaintiff, and Joan the widow of Hugh de 
Ilopham, Deforcient, respecting the manor of Masham, dated 3 Edw. 
III., A.D. 1329. 

[translation.] 

This is the final agreement made in the Court of the Lord the King at 
Westminster in one month from the day of Easter, in the 3rd year of the 
Reign of King Edward, from the Conquest the 3rd — before William de Herle, 
Henry le Scrop, John de Bousser, and John Travers, Justices, and other 
faithful men of the Lord the King then there present ; between Geoffrey le 
Scrop, Plaintiff, and Joan who was the wife of Hugh de Hepham, Deforce- 
ant, of the manor of Masham with the appurtenances, whereupon a plea of 
covenant was summoned between them in the same Court — to wit, that the 
aforesaid Joan hath acknowledged the aforesaid manor with the appurte- 
nances to be the right of the same Geoffrey; whereof the same Geoffrey hath 
two parts of the aforesaid manor with the appurtenances of the gift of the 
aforesaid Joan — to have and to hold to the same Geoffrey and his heirs of 
the chief lords of the same fee by the services which to the same two parts 
appertain for ever : and, moreover, the same Joan hath granted for herself 
and her heirs that the third part of the aforesaid manor with the appurte- 
nances (which Margaret who was the wife of John de Wauton, holdeth in 
•dower of the inheritance of the aforesaid Joan on the day when this agree- 
ment was made, and which after the decease of the same Margaret ought to 
revert to the aforesaid Joan and her heirs) shall after the decease of the same 
Margaret entirely remain to the aforesaid Geoffrey and his heirs, to be hold- 
en together with the aforesaid two parts as if remaining by this fine of the 
chief lords of the same fee, by the services which to the same third part ap- 
pertain for ever : and the aforesaid Joan and her heirs will warrant to the 
aforesaid Geoffrey and his heirs the aforesaid manor with the appurtenances 
as is aforesaid against all men for ever : and for this acknowledgement, 
grant, warranty, fine, and concord, the same Geoffrey hath granted for himself 
and his heirs, that they will render every year to the aforesaid Joan for the 
whole life of the same Joan, one hundred marks of silver — to wit, a moiety 
at the feast of St. Michael, and the other moiety at Easter ; and if it happen 
that the aforesaid Geoffrey or his heirs at either term make default in the 
payment of the aforesaid money, it shall be lawful to the aforesaid Joan dur- 
ing the whole life of the same Joan to distrain on the aforesaid two parts 



APPENDIX. . 487 

with the appurtenances, and also on the manors of Clifton-upon-Yore, Bur- 
ton-Constable, and Hunton y with the appurtenances, and the distresses in vir- 
tue thereof taken to retain until she be fully satisfied of the arrears ; and af- 
ter the decease of the same Joan the aforesaid Geoffrey and his heirs shall be 
quit of the payment of the aforesaid money by the year for ever. 



No. 23. 

Grant from Sir Geoffrey le Scrop to the Abbot and Convent of Jorevale, of a 
right of way through all Mashamshire to their Coal-mine in Colsterdale, 
dated 10 April, 7 Edw. III., A.D. 1333. 

This Indenture witnesseth that Sir Geoffrey le Scrop, Lord of Masham- 
shire, hath granted to the Abbot and Convent of Joreval and their sucessors 
and all [their] men a free way through the whole of Mashamshire towards 
Colsterdale ; so that no one heneeforth coming towards Colsterdale unto the 
mine of the said Abbot and Convent to seek coals or other necessaries, or 
thence returning, shall by the aforesaid Sir Geoffrey le Serop, his heirs or as- 
signs, or any one in their name, be assailed, hindered, or disturbed in com- 
mon, in meadow, and corn ; but all men may peaceably come to, and return 
from, the said mine of Colsterdale without any disturbance, for ever : and for 
this grant the aforesaid Abbot and Convent, grant to the aforesaid Sir Geof- 
frey le Scrop and his heirs every year out of the aforesaid mine of Colster- 
dale, twenty quarters of coals for estovers, for ever, while the aforesaid mine 
lasts ; and saving to the aforesaid Abbot and Convent sufficient coals for 
their own necessities. In testimony whereof, the parties aforesaid to these 
presents have interchangeably affixed their seals. These being witnesses — 
Sir Thomas de Schofeld, Knt., Sir Ranulph de Normanville, Knt., Philip de 
Burton, Reginald de Clifton, Nicholas Warde of Akelthorpe, and many 
others. Given at Joreval, the 10th day of the month of April, in the 7th 
year of the Ueign of King Edward, from the Conquest the 3rd. 



No. 24. 

Agreement between the Abbot and Convent of Jervaux, and Sir Geffrey le 
Scrop, that the Abbot and Convent should get Coals in Colsterdale, dated 
7 Edwd. III., a.d. 1334. 

[translation.] 

This written Indenture between the Abbot and Convent of Jervaux on 
the one part, and Sir Geffrei le Scrop, Lord of Masham, on the other part ; 
witnesseth, that whereas there hath been a dispute betwixt them concerning 
the mine of coals in Colsterdale, so it is agreed betwixt them that the said 
Sir Geffrei wills and grants for himself and for his heirs that the said Abbot 
and Convent and their successors, may dig for coals within Colsterdale where- 
soever they like, as well without their enclosed ground as within, and make 
their profit of them at their pleasure, without the hindrance of the said Sir 



488 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Geffrei or his heirs, for ever. And for this grant the aforesaid Abbot and 
Convent grant and oblige themselves for themselves, and for their successors, 
to be bound in eight marks sterling of yearly rent, to be paid to the said 
Sir Geffrei, and to his heirs, at two terms in the year, in their manor of 
Wytton — that is to say, one moiety at the Festival of St. Martin, and the 
other moiety at the Feast of Pentecost, by equal portions — beginning for 
the first term at the Festival of St. Martin next ensuing. And the afore- 
said Abbot and Convent will and grant for themselves and for their succes- 
sors, that if the aforesaid rent, at the terms aforesaid, be in arrear,- in whole 
or in part, that then it be lawful for the said Sir Geffrei, and for his heirs, 
to distrain within the said manor of Wytton and its appurtenances, by them- 
selves or their Bailiffs, and to detain what they so take in distress until sa- 
tisfaction be made them for the arrears and damages. And the said Sir 
Geffrei wills and grants for himself and for his heirs, that if it happen that 
the mine of coals in Colsterdale be by working so destroyed and reduced 
that no more coals be left therein, that then the said Abbot and Convent, 
and their successors, may be released from the payment of the aforesaid 
Rent for ever. Notwithstanding that the payment of the aforesaid rent be 
made to the said Geoffrie and to his heirs for ever, as is above said, as long 
as any coals can be found therein ; albeit that the aforesaid Abbot and Con- 
vent and their successors, get not the coals, so that through the negligence 
of the said Abbot and Convent or their successors, or through default of 
their working, the payment of the said Rent may not cease. In testimony 
whereof, to one part of this Indenture remaining with the said Sir Geffrei, 
the aforesaid Abbot and Convent have set their common Seal, and to the 
other part of this Indenture remaining with the aforesaid Abbot and Con- 
vent, the said Sir Geffrie hath set his seal. These being witnesses — Sirs 
John de Mowbray, Henry le Scrop, Thos. de Shefeld, Thos. de Colvill, 
Chevrs. "William de Scurueton (Bailiff of Richmond), John de Burton, Ray- 
nald de Clifton, Nicholas Ward of Aszelthorp, William de Powntfreight 
(Clerk), and others. Dated at Jervaux on Monday, being the day after 
Easter day, in the 7th year of the reign of King Edward ye 3rd, after the 
Conquest. 



No. 25. 

Grant from John de Mowbray to Sir Jeoffrey le Scrope, of the Forest and 
Chace of llassaham, dated 11th Edward III., A.D. 1337. 

[a translation from the latin]. 

To all that shall see or hear this writing, John de Mowbray, Lord of the 
Isle of Aixholm [Axiholme] and of the Honour of Brember and Gower, 
greeting in the Lord. Whereas Sir Roger de Mowbray, our ancestor, by 
his writing did grant and confirm to Sir John de Wanton formerly Lord of 
Masham, his Forest * of Massham by these Bounds — to wit, from lor to 

* Here we have again special mention of the Forest of Masham, and also of the Chace. See 
ante p. 476, as to the boundaries of Masham. 



APPENDIX. 489 

Sinderhow as Nutewid [Nutvvith] remains in common between the villages; 
and from Sinderhow to a hill which is near to the south of Roger- cross, as 
the water runs from thence towards Masham, and so to a hill above Pilles- 
den ; and from thence by the top of the hill of Fristildishou [Throstle-how]; 
and from Fristildishou by the top of the hill to the bounds of Robert the 
son of Ralph [Coverdale] ; and from thence to the bounds of Witton — to 
hold to the said John and his heirs, of the aforesaid Ploger and his heirs, to 
wit, in forest, in wood and in plain, in chaces, with all its Liberties and ap- 
purtenances. And did also grant that if the same John or his heirs, or their 
dogs, run beyond the said bounds into the Forest of the said Roger that the 
same John and his heirs should have the chasing thorough of the beast which 
they were in pursuit of. And that if the said John or his heirs should have a 
mind to range in the forest of the said Roger, it should be lawful for them so 
to do, with two or three bows. And also, Roger de Mowbray and Nigell his 
son, our ancestors, by a Fine levied in the Court of the Lord the King at 
Doncaster, on the morrow of the Assumption of the blessed Mary, in the 22nd 
[qy. 2nd] year of the reign of King Henry, before Ranulph de Glanvill and his 
companions, then Justices of the same Lord the King, did by the same Fine 
grant that the forest aforesaid, by the before-mentioned bounds, should re- 
main to John de Wauton and his heirs. And that the same John and his 
heirs should have liberty of chasing and ranging in the forest of the said 
Roger in form aforesaid. And because that Joan de Wauton, heir of the 
said John de Wauton, did give and grant to our beloved Sir Galfrid le 
Scroop the Manor of Masham, with all its appurtenances, forests, chaces, 
liberties, Knights' fees, and all other things whatsoever belonging to the 
said manor, to have and to hold to the said Sir Galfrid, his heirs and as- 
signs for ever, of the chief Lords of the Fee, by the services therefore due 
and accustomed. Now we, for the special affection which we bear towards 
the said Sir Galfrid, do will and grant that the said Sir Galfrid, his heirs 
and assigns, may have and hold the said forest and chace by the metes and 
bounds contained in the writing of Sir Roger de Mowbray, our ancestor, 
and in the before-named Fine together with the aforesaid liberty of chasing 
and ranging in the forest of the said Roger, granted by our ancestors in form 
aforesaid, to the said John de Wauton by the aforesaid writing and Fine — 
so that neither we nor our heirs, nor any in our name, or in the name of our 
heirs, may at any time hereafter have claim, or require any right or claim, 
in the aforesaid forest or chace, nor in any part thereof, or any liberty of 
chase in the same. Furthermore we do will and grant for us and our heirs, 
that the said Sir Galfrid and his heirs may have and hold the Manor of 
Masham, with all its appurtenances, forests, chaces, liberties, Knights' fees, 
and all other profits whatsoever to the said manor belonging, of us and our 
heirs, by the service of a bearded Arrow, to be paid to us at the Feast of 
the Nativity of our Lord, for all services, exactions, and demands, for ever, 
so that neither we nor our heirs, or any one in our name, may at any time 
hereafter claim or require any right or claim in the aforesaid manor, witli 
its appurtenances, or in any services whatsoever issuing out of the said 

II 



490 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

manor, except the aforesaid bearded arrow. And all other services whatso- 
ever due to us and our heirs out of the aforesaid manor, we do by these Pre- 
sents remit and release to the said Sir Galfrid, his heirs and assigns for ever. 
In testimony whereof we have to this writing set our seal, these being wit- 
nesses r S'rs Thomas de Lacon, Michael de Hewik r Thomas de Sheffeld r 
John de Wacksand, Ralph de Normanvill, Kn'ts; Will'm de Clyve (Clerk), 
Nicholas "Ward of Akelthorp, WilFui de Dalton, Thomas de Tolyngton, 
and others. Dated at Kirkeby-Malesard on Sunday on the feast day of St. 
Lawrence, in the 11th year of the reign of King Edward the third after 
the Conquest. 



No. 26. 
An Inquisition post-mortem taken the 14^A Edw. III., A.D. 1340 ( No. 
35J as to the Manors which were held by Geoffrey le Scrop, by which 
it teas found that he was jJossessed of the following, amongst other 
31a?iors, Sfc, viz. : — 

Masham Manor — Fegerby, Helagh, Sutton, Ellington, Ellingstringe, and 
Finghale, 



27. 

Grant from Sir Henry le Scrop to Sir John de Heslerton, and Sir Thomas 
de Swyningthwaite of his manors of Masham, fyc, dated 17 Edw. III. t 
a.b. 1343. 
Know [all men] present and to come that I, Sir Henry le Scrop, Knight, 
have given and granted, and by this my present deed confirmed to Sir John 
de Hoselerten, Parson of the Church of Patrick Brompton, and Sir Thomas 
de Smyngthwait, Parson of the Church of "Watlows, my manors of Masham, 
Clifton-upon-Yore, Thern, and Burton Constable, with their appurtenances 
and all the reversions belonging to me in the same manors, to have and to 
hold all the manors aforesaid, with the appurtenances and reversions afore- 
said to the aforesaid Sir John and Sir Thomas, their heirs and assigns of the 
chief lords of the same fee by the services therefore due and accustomed for 
ever ; and I, the aforesaid Henry and my heirs, will warrant all the manors 
aforesaid with the appurtenances and reversions aforesaid, to the aforesaid 
Sir John and Sir Thomas, their heirs and assigns, against all men for ever. 
Also I have granted to the same Sir John and Sir Thomas, all my cattle, 
goods, and chattels, found and being in all the manors aforesaid. In testi- 
mony whereof, to this present deed I have affixed my seal. — These being 
witnesses — Sir William le Scrop, Knight, Sir Ranulph Pigott, Knight, Sir 
William de Smyngthwait, Knight, and Sir John Tempeste the Son, Knight, 
William de Skurneton, Geoffrey Pigott, Nicholas Ward, and others. Given 
at my manor of Coverham, on Thursday, next before the feast of St. Marga- 
ret the Virgin, in the 17th year of the Heign of King Edward, from the Con- 
quest the 3rd. 






APPENDIX, 491 

No. 28. 

iDeed of Settlement by John de Heslerton and Thomas de Sivyninythtcaiie^ 
settling the manors of Masham, 8fc., upon Sir Henry le Scrop for life, 
with remainder to his sons Geoffrey and Henry, dated 17 JEdw. III.., 
A.D. 1343. 

[translation.] 

Know [all men] present and to come that we, John de Heslerton, Parson 
of the Church at Patrick Brompton, and Thomas de Sinyngthwait, Parson of 
the Church of Watlows [Thornton Watlass] have given, granted, and by 
this our present deed confirmed to the Lord Sir Henry le Scrop, Knt., our 
manors at Masham, Clifton-upon-Yore, Thirn, and Burton Constable, with 
all their apurtenances and reversions to us belonging in the same manors, 
to have and to hold all the manors aforesaid, with all their appurtenances 
and reversions aforesaid, to the aforesaid Lord Henry for his whole life of 
the chief lords of the same fee by the services therefore due and accustomed, 
with this addition moreover, that it shall be lawful to the aforesaid Lord 
Henry to make waste thereof, and that he be not hindered touching the 
waste thereof made, so that after the death of the aforesaid Lord Henry, all 
the manors aforesaid, with all their appurtenances and reversions aforesaid, 
shall remain to Geoffrey, son of the aforesaid Lord Henry and his heirs of 
his body issuing, to be holden of the chief lords of the same fee by the servi- 
ces therefore due and accustomed for ever ; and if it happen that the said 
Geoffrey die without heir of his body issuing (which God forbid) then after 
the death of the aforesaid Geoffrey, all the manors aforesaid with all their 
appurtenances and reversions aforesaid, shall entirely remain to Henry, bro- 
ther of the same Geoffrey and the heirs of his body issuing, to be holden of 
the chief lords of the same fee by the services therefore due and accustomed ; 
and if it happen that the aforesaid Henry die without heir of his body issu- 
ing (which God forbid), then after the death of the aforesaid Henry all the 
manors aforesaid, with all their appurtenances and reversions aforesaid, shall 
remain to the right heirs of the aforesaid Lord Henry le Scrop, to be holden 
of the chief lords of the same fee by the services therefore due and accus- 
tomed for ever ; also we have granted to the same Lord Henry all the cattle, 
goods, and chattels, found and being in the same manors. In testimony 
whereof, to this present deed we have affixed our seals. — These being wit- 
nesses — Sir Ranulph Fitz Ralph, Knight, Sir John de Lascels of Lange- 
thorn, Knight, and Sir John Waxand, Knt., Roger Tysell, Roger Steward, 
Robert de Middleham, John Bucktrout, and others. Given at Patrick 
Brompton, on Saturday the eve of St. Lawrence the Martyr, in the 17th 
year of the reign of King Edward, after the Conquest the 3rd. 



No. 29. 
Release from Sir Thomas de Coleville to Lord Henry Scrop, of all his right 
in the manor of Masham, dated 18 Edw. III., A.D. 1344. 

To all who shall see or hear this writing Sir Thomas de Colville, Knt, greet- 



492 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

ing in the Lord. Know ye that I have remised, released, and altogether for me 
and my heirs for ever quit-claimed to Lord Henry le Scrop, Knt., his heirs 
and assigns, all the right and claim which I have had, have, or hereafter may 
have in the manor of Masham with its appurtenances, and also in all the lands 
and tenements which the same Lord Henry had on the day of the making of 
these presents, in demesne, lordship-service or reversion, within Masham or 
Mashamshire, with all and singular its appurtenances ; so that neither I, the 
said Thomas, nor my heirs, nor any in our name, shall be able hereafter to 
demand, or challenge aright or claim in the manor lands or tenements afore- 
said, nor in any part of the same, nor in any their appurtenances for ever ; 
and I, the aforesaid Thomas, and my heirs, the manor of Masham aforesaid, 
and all the lands and tenements aforesaid, with all and singular their appur- 
tenances, will warrant and defend to the aforesaid Lord Henry, his heirs and 
assigns, against all men for ever. In testimony whereof, I have affixed my 
seal to this writing, these being witnesses — Sir Alexander de Nevill, Knt., 
Sir Thomas de Rokeby, Knt., and Sir John Tempest, the Son, Knt; Sir John 
de Heselarton (Parson of the Church at Patrick Brumpton) Nicholas Ward 
of Akelthorpe, Thomas de Gathenby, Adam de Cubbeuych, Thomas de Scot- 
land, John de Fleteham, and others. Given at Clifton-upon-Yore the 
seventh day of April, in the 18th year of the reign of King Edward, after 
the Conquest the third. 



No. 30. 
Extract from the Inquisition taken at Bedale, before the Collectors of the aid 
granted to the King to make his eldest son a Knight, in the 22 Edw. 
III., a.d. 1348. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

Also they say that Henry le Scrop holds in Massam, with the appurte- 
nances, half a Fee which John de Wauton formerly held, and that the Ab- 
bott of Jervaulx holds, in Elynstring, three carucates of land in perpetual 
alms of the Fee of Masham, and that the Abbott of Fountains holds in 
Aldeburgh, three carucates of land in perpetual alms of the aforesaid Fee. 



No. 31. 
Extract from the Inquisition post mortem, taken at Bedale, in the \§th Ric. 
II, A.D. 1392, on the death of Henry le Scrop, chevalier. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

Massham.— Also they say that the aforesaid Henry held in his demesne 
as of Fee, on the day on which he died in the aforesaid County, the Manor 
of Massham with all appurtenances, of Thomas de Mowbray, Earl Marshall, 
by the service of one barbed arrow by the year for all services ; and there is 
in the same manor, one capital messuage which is worth nothing by the 
year beyond reprizes j and there are in demesne there, 166 acres of land, 



APPENDIX. 493 

every acre whereof is worth by the year 8c?.— sum 110s. Sd. And there are 
in demesne there, 30 acres of meadow, every acre whereof is worth by the 
year 2s. — sum 60s. Also there are of rents of Free tenants there — that is to 
say, in Massham, Feghyrby, Heilagh, Sutton, Ellyngton, Ellyngstring, 
£4 6s. Id., payable at the Terms of St. Michael, Saint Martin, Easter, and 
Pentecost : also there is the rent of one pound of Pepper there price 14c7. ; 
payable every year within the Advent of the Lord : also there are of the 
rents of bondmen and tenants at will there, with the Agistment of the Ma- 
nor there in Massham, Feghyrby, Heilagh, Sutton, Ellyngton, Ellynstryng, 
and Leghtowne, £51 8s. Id., payable at the Terms of Easter, Saint Michael, 
and Saint Martin — thereof at the term of Saint Martin £9. Also there are of 
rents of divers tenants there for works, at the Term of Saint Peter ad vincula, 
77s. 3fc?. Also there are two water corn mills there, which are worth 
by the year beyond reprizes £10 ; payable at the Feasts of St. Michael and 
Easter : also there is a certain coal mine there, which is worth by the year 
beyond reprizes 40s. ; payable at the Feasts of Saint Michael and Easter : 
also the perquisites of Courts are worth by the year 33s. 4c?. 

Clifton. — Also they say that the aforesaid Henry held in his demesne 
as of Fee, on the day on which he died in the aforesaid County, the Manor 
of Clifton with the appurtenances of Ralph Neville, chevalier, by Knight's 
service ; and they say that in the said manor there is a certain capital mes- 
suage which is worth nothing by the year beyond reprizes : also they say 
that there are 180 acres of land there in demesne, every acre whereof is 
worth 4id. — sum 60s. ; also they say that there are 30 acres of meadow 
there in Inclosures and without, every acre whereof is worth by the year 
2s. — sum 60s. ; also the Agistment of the Moor there, is worth by the year 
13s. 4c?. ; and there is one rent of Assize there, issuing out of a water mill 
upon the Jarrow [Yore] of 43s. 4c?., by the year, at the Terms of Saint Mar- 
tin and Pentecost, and which mill is waste and hath been waste 40 years 
now past, and therefore of the aforesaid rent nothing is received. 

Burton-UPON-Jore. — Also they say that the aforesaid Henry held in 
his demesne as of Fee, on the day on which he died in Burton-upon-Jore 
[Yore] in the County aforesaid, one messuage and certain land which are 
worth by the year 6s., and are so demised to tenants at will, payable at the 
Terms of St. Martin and Pentecost, and they are holden of Richard le Scrop, 
chevalier — by what service they are ignorant. 



No. 32. 

An Inquisition post mortem, taken the 1th Henry IV., A.D. 1405. — No. 52, as 
to the Manors, 8fe., which icere held by Stephen le Scrope, of Masham, by 
ichich it was found that he was possessed at the time of his death of the 
following (amongst other manors). 

Viz :— 

Masham Manor, with its members, in Fetherby, Helaugh, Sutton, \ 

Elington, and Ellingstring .. .. .. "[york. 

Leigh tons and Nosterfield 

Cilfton Manor 



494 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE, 



No. 33. 

Extract from an Instrument reciting a grant from Henry V., to Henry 
Fitz Hugh, dated 10 June, 5th Hen. V., A.D. 1417, of the manors of 
Masham, fyc, that belonged to Henry le Scrop (who forfeited them for 
high treason), at the time of his forfeiture to hold to the said Henry Fitz- 
Hugh and the heirs male of his body begotten. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

Whereas our Lord Henry, late King of England, our father, on the 10th 
day of Jnne in the 5th year of his reign, of his special grace and of his mere 
and proper motion by his letters patent, did give and grant, and confirm to 
his beloved and faithful Sir Henry Fitz Hugh, Knt., now deceased, the 
manors of Masham, Clyfton, &c, with all their members and appurtenances 
whatsoever, together with all the lands, tenements and rents, which were of 
Henry le Scrop of Masham, within the Liberty of Richmond, or in Rich- 
mondshire, together with Knight's Fees, Advowsons of Churches, Priories, 
Abbeys, Chapels, Chantries, and other Ecclesiastical benefices whatso- 
ever ; Courts Leet, Infangthef views of Frankpledge, wards, marriages, es- 
cheats, reliefs, parks, chaces, warrens, liberties, franchises, fairs, markets, 
and other commodities whatsoever to the said manors, lands, and tenements, 
in anywise howsoever appertaining or belonging, or not appertaining to the 
manors, lands, and tenements aforesaid, which were of the aforesaid Henry 
le Scrop, who forfeited [the same] to oar same father, or of any feoffees or 
feoffee to his use within the Liberty of Richmond or in Richmondshire within 
the County of York, as entirely and with the same franchises and liberties 
as the aforesaid Henry le Scrop, or any of his ancestors had or held the same 
at any time before the forfeiture aforesaid, together with all the reversions 
of the lands, tenements, fees, or advowsons to the aforesaid Henry le Scrope 
appertaining, which on the day of his forfeiture aforesaid, did, or by reason 
of the forfeiture aforesaid might have come to our same father, within the 
aforesaid Liberty or in Richmondshire aforesaid ; and which manors, lands, 
tenements, rents, services, fees, and advowsons, Courts Leet, Infangthef 
views of Frankpledge, wards, marriages, escheats, reliefs, parks, chases, 
warrens, liberties, franchises, fairs, markets, and reversions, with all their 
commodities, with the appurtenances, then were of the value of £260 by 
the year, as to our same father did appear to have and to hold as free- 
ly and entirely with the same liberties and franchises as the aforesaid Henry 
le Scrop or any of his ancestors at any time had or held the same to the afore- 
said Henry Fitz Hugh and his heirs male of his body begotten, unto the 
value of £260 aforesaid by the year, of our same father and his heirs by ser- 
vice rendering to our same father and his heirs by the year, one rose for all ser- 
vices, without rendering any other thing to him or his heirs aforesaid, for the 
same as in the letters aforesaid is more fully contained ; and afterwards by 
an Inquisition before Sir Richard Nevill, Knt., &e, 



APPENDIX. 495 

No. 34. 

Exemplification of proceedings taken by John Lord Scrop of Masham, for the 
Restoration to him of the Estates forfeited by the Attainder of Henry 
Lord Scrop of Masham. 

[translation.] 

Elizabeth, by the graee of God, of England, France, and Ireland, Queen, 
defender of the faith, &c., to all to whom these presents shall come greeting. 
We have inspected a record of a certain petition preferr'd before Lord Henry 
the 6th, late King of England, our ancestor, by one John Lescrop, Knight in 
the Parliament of the said King, held at Westminster the last day of April, 
in the 3rd year of his reign, and remaining upon record in the Rolls of our 
Chancery within our Tower of London, in these words following : — Item — 
Another petition was exhibited in the same Parliament by the said Commons, 
in favour of John Lescrop, Knight, brother and heir to Henry, late Lord 
Lescrop of Masham, the tenour whereof here follows. To the most sage 
Commons in this present Parliament assembled, beseecheth most humbly 
John Lescrop, Knight, brother and heir to Henry, late Lord Lescrop of 
Masham : that whereas Henry, late King of England, father to our sover- 
eign lord the King that now is, being moved by his conscience with regard 
to the possession of the seignories, manors, lands, tenements, fees, and ad- 
vowsons, possessions, and hereditaments that were seized into his hands by 
reason of the forfeiture of Henry, late Lord Lescrop of Masham, upon inform- 
ation given him that the same were entailed, will'd and granted by word of 
month, that all the signories, manors, lands, tenements, fees, and advowsons, 
possessions, and hereditaments seiz'd into his hands for the reason aforesaid, 
then being in his hands, or granted before or by his letters patent to any 
other which the said John Lescrop, brother and heir in-tail to the said 
Henry Lord Lescrop of Masham, could prove himself intitled to the inheri- 
tance of in-tail by sufficient evidences before the Archbishop of Canterbury, 
the Duke of Exeter, the Bishop of Durham, and William Kinvolmershe, * 
then treasurer of England, should be restored to the said John according to 
the effect of the entails thereof, without further delay or process of the law, 
which will and grant of the said late King was prevented being brought 
to a conclusion as well by reason of the malady of the said Duke, as also the 
death of the said William Kinvolmershe, on which account the said John 
by the advice of his Council hath by diverse petitions applied to our said 
sovereign lord the King and to his Council, in order to obtain Justice in the 
pursuit of the said inheritance, upon which petitions several Commissioners 
were appointed by Commission of our said Lord the King to make Inquisitions 
in the several Counties wherein the seignories, manors, lands, tenements, fees 
and advowsons, possessions and hereditaments of the said inheritance lye, were 
entail'd upon the said John ; and notwithstanding by Inquisitions taken by suf- 
ficient Knights and Esquires in different Counties and returned into Chancery, 

* He was Prebendary of the Church of Masham, see ante p. 328. 



496 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the greatest part of the seignores, manors, lands, tenements, fees and advow- 
sons, possessions and hereditaments of the said inheritance are found to be suf- 
ficiently entail'd and lineally descended to the said John, as by the said In- 
quisitions more fully appear ; yet the said John by the great and voluntary 
delaies made by different persons cannot have recovery nor livery of his said 
inheritance according to the will and grant of the said late King Henry, nor 
according to right and conscience, to the very great prejudice of the said 
John and the utter destruction of his said inheritance, unless he be remedied 
by the authority of this present Parliament. May it please you in your 
great wisdom, considering the will and grant of the said late King and the 
other premises of application made to our sovereign lord the King who now 
is, and to all the lords spiritual and temporal in that present Parliament as- 
sembled ; in discharge and absolution of the soul of the said late King to 
enact by the authority of this present Parliament that of all those seignories, 
manors, lands, tenements, fees and advowsons, possessions and hereditaments, 
which are found to be entailed upon the said John by the said Inquisitions 
taken by vertue of the said Commissions and returned into Chancery as 
above said, the said John shewing his evidences and good and sufficient en- 
tails, agreeable to the said Inquisitions, before this present Parliament, or in 
the Court of Chancery before the Chancellor of England for the time being, 
the said John may have full and entire livery and entry into the same, by 
the authority of this present Parliament without further delay or process of 
the law or of any other pursuit thereof, any gift or grant of the said seign- 
ories, manors, lands, tenements, advowsons, possessions and hereditaments, or 
any parcel thereof made to any other by the said late King or our sovereign 
lord who now is to the contrary notwithstanding, considering in your very 
great wisdom as well the will and grant of the said late King, as the long 
time in which the said John has been dispossest of the said inheritance, 
namely, for 6 years and upwards ; during which time the said suppliant was 
employed in the wars by the command of the said late King to the so great 
expenses and costs of the said suppliant, that he is no longer in a capacity to 
recover his inheritance by any other means than as is above said. Which 
supplication being read and understood by the lords spiritual and temporal 
in the said Parliament assembled, by the advice and assent of the said lords, 
and at the special request of the said Commons, it was answer'd in the man- 
ner following : — The King with the assent of the lords in this Parliament, 
and at the request of the Commons, hath granted all the contents within the 
said petition ; provided, nevertheless, that if it be found now or hereafter, 
before any escheatour or other person who hath or shall have power to make 
such enquiry, that the said Henry, late Lord Lescrop was seiz'd of any par- 
cel of the said signories, manors, lands, tenements, fees and advowsons, pos- 
sessions and hereditaments, not being granted to any by the letters patent 
of the late King or our sovereign lord that now is, in fee-simple or in his 
demesne as of fee-simple, the day he forfeited or at any time after, that the 
King or his successors may enter into such seignories, manors, lands, tene- 
ments, fees and advowsons, possessions and hereditaments, or any parcel 
thereof as are so found to be in fee-simple ; and that the issues and profits of 



APPENDIX. 497 

such seignories, manors, lands, tenements, fees and advowsons, pos- 
sessions and hereditaments, or parcel thereof so found to be in fee-simple, 
received from the day of entry or livery made by or to the said suppliant by 
the authority aforesaid, until the day of such enquiry by which they are 
found to be in fee-simple as above, be restored to the King or to his suc- 
cessors ; and if any person having estate by the letters patent of our sover- 
eign lord the King or his noble father, in the said seignories, manors, lands, 
tenements, fees and advowsons, possessions and hereditaments, or any par- 
cel thereof, commences suit hereafter against the said suppliant his heirs or 
assigns, by writ of Scire facias or otherwise alledging in the said suit that 
the said Henry the day of his forfeiture or after was seiz'd, in fee-simple or 
in his demesne as of fee-simple of the said seignories, manors, lands, tene- 
ments, fees and advowsons, possessions and hereditaments, or any parcel 
thereof, and this can prove by any action tried by record, or by any other 
just and reasonable way : or if the suppliant, his heirs or assigns, be in law- 
ful manner called upon by the Sheriff or other person deputed in the said 
writ of Scire facias or other pursuit ; and appear not upon the day ap- 
pointed in the said writ of Scire facias or other pursuit ; or if they do ap- 
pear and can alledge nothing material in barring the actions and demands 
of the persons so suing, that then the said persons so suing and their heirs 
be restored to such seignories, manors, lands, tenements, fees and advowsons, 
possessions and hereditaments, or any part thereof being in such manner 
lawfully tried as above, and found to be in fee-simple ; together with the is- 
sues and profits of all such seignories, manors, lands, tenements, fees and ad- 
vowsons, possessions and hereditaments, or any parcel thereof being in such 
manner lawfully tried as above, and found to be in fee-simple, according to 
the quantity thereof from the day of entry or livery made by or to the said 
suppliant as above, until the day of such recovery, saving to the King, his 
heirs and successors, the right of reversion which they had therein : and sav- 
ing nevertheless to the said suppliant, his heirs and assigns, after the said 
restitution or entry of the King, their right and action at Common Law if 
they have any therein, &c. Memorandum that the said clause of Purven 
was made by the advice of two lords spiritual and temporal, and of the 
King's Sarjeants-at-Law. We have consented that the tenor of the R.oll of 
the aforesaid Petition shall be exemplified by these presents at the request 
of our faithful and well-beloved Sir Christopher Danby, Knight. In testi- 
mony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Wit- 
ness ourself at Westminster the 8th day of June in the 9th year of our reign. 



No. 35. 

An Inquisition taken at York Castle, the 3rd Aug., 2 Hen. VI, A.D. 1423. 
Masham. — An Inquisition taken in the Castle of York, the 3rd day of 
August in the 2nd year of the reign of King Henry, the 6th after the Con- 
quest of England : before Sir Richard Neville, Knt, Robert Tirwhit, John 
Preston, and also Robert de Hilton, Sheriff of York; Commissioners of the said 

JJ 



498 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Lord the King assigned, together with Henry Percy, Earl of Northumber- 
land; Ralph, Earl of Westmoreland; and John Baron de Greystock, by 
virtue of a certain Commission of the said Lord the King to the same di- 
rected, to enquire by the oath of good and lawful men of the County of York, 
if John Alburgh by his deed the date whereof is at York, the 22nd day of 
the month of September in the 13th year of the reign of the Lord Edward 
late King of England, after the Conquest the 3rd, progenitor of the afore- 
said Lord the now King deceased, gave to Sir Geoffrey le Scrop, Knt., and 
the heirs of his body begotten by the name of Sir Geoffrey le Scrop, Knt., 
the manor of Masham with the appurtenances in the County aforesaid, by 
the name of all his manor of Masham, with all its appurtenances in the vill 
and in the district of Masham and Mashamshire, as in messuages, gardens, 
vivaries, walls, hedges, ditches, lands, meadows, feedings, pastures, woods, 
waters, pools, mills, rents, services of freemen, villeins [with] their chattels 
and sequels, fairs, markets, chaces, warrens, and all other liberties and ap- 
purtenances whatsoever, and in whatsoever place without any witholding ; 
and which manor he lately had of the gift and feoffment of the aforesaid 
Geoffrey ; and if by virtue of the said gift made to the same Geoffrey, he 
was seized of the manor aforesaid with the appurtenances in his demesne as 
of fee and right by the form of the gift aforesaid, in time of peace, in the time 
of the said late King Edward, and took the esplees thereof as in leasing 
of the messuages, corn-herbage, mowing of meadows, cutting of wood and 
underwood, rents, arrears of rents and other kinds of the issues of the man- 
or amounting unto £20 and more, as of fee and right by the form of the gift 
aforesaid ; and if from the aforesaid Geoffrey the right of the manor afore- 
said with the appurtenances, did and ought to descend to Henry, as son and 
heir of the aforesaid Geoffrey by the form of the gift aforesaid ; and if from 
the same Henry the right of the manor aforesaid with the appurtenances 
did and ought to descend to Stephen as son and heir of the same Henry, by 
the form of the gift aforesaid ; and if from the aforesaid Stephen the right 
of the manor aforesaid with the appurtenances, did and ought to descend to 
Henry as son and heir of the same Stephen, by form of the gift aforesaid ; 
and if from the same Henry son of Stephen, because he died without heirs 
of his body the right of the manor aforesaid with the appurtenances, did and 
ought to descend to Geoffrey as brother and heir of the same Henry, son of 
Stephen, by the form of the gift aforesaid ; and if from the same Geoffrey 
brother of Henry, because the same Geoffrey died without heir of his body, 
the right of the manor aforesaid with the appurtenances did and ought to 
descend to Stephen as brother and heir of the aforesaid Geoffrey, brother of 
Henry, by the form of the gift aforesaid ; and if from the same Stephen bro- 
ther of Geoffrey, because the same Stephen died without heir of his body, 
the right of the manor aforesaid with the appurtenances, did and ought to 
descend to John le Scrop, as brother and heir of the same Stephen, brother 
of Geoffrey, by the form of the gift aforesaid ; and if after the death of the 
aforesaid Geoffrey, the father of Henry, and Henry son and heir of the same 
Geoffrey, and Stephen son and heir of the same Henry son of Geoffrey, and 



APPENDIX. 499 

Henry son and heir of the same Stephen, son of Henry and Geoffrey, bro- 
ther of the same Henry son of Stephen, and Stephen brother of the same 
Geoffrey brother of Henry ; it ought to descend to the aforesaid John le 
Scrop as brother of the aforesaid Stephen, brother of Geoffrey and also bro- 
ther and heir of the aforesaid Henry son of Stephen, by the form of the gift 
aforesaid, because each of the aforesaid Henry, Geoffrey, and Stephen, bro- 
thers of the same John le Scrop died without heirs of his body ; and if the 
Lord Henry, late Xing of England, father of the Lord the now King de- 
ceased, seiz'd the manor aforesaid with the appurtenances into his hands by 
pretext of a certain judgment of forfeiture for high treason rendered at 
Southampton, against the aforesaid Henry son of Stephen, by the name of the 
Lord Henry le Scrop of Masham [and] of Faxflete in the County of York, Knt., 
on Monday the 5th day of August, in the 3rd year of the reign of our said Lord 
Henry, father of the Lord the now King deceased, before Thomas late Duke of 
Clarence, and other Lords, Peers of the aforesaid Henry, son of Stephen, by 
the same late Duke convoked with him by virtue of a certain Commission of 
the same Lord Henry, father of the lord the now King deceased, thereupon 
directed to the aforesaid late Duke ; and if the same judgment was after- 
wards affirmed in the Parliament of the aforesaid lord the King deceased, 
father of the lord the now King, holden at Westminster in the same 3rd 
year ; and if afterwards the same Henry father of the lord the now King 
deceased, did by his letters patent grant the said manor of Masham with 
the appurtenances among other manors, lands, and tenements, to Sir Henry 
Fitz Hugh, Knt., and his heirs male of his body begotten. By the oath of 
Sir Richard Hastings, Knt., Sir John Clerveaux, Knt., Sir William Ryther, 
Knt, Sir John Puddesay, Knt., Sir John Everingham, Knt., Ralph Fitz 
Randolph, John de Newsam, William Scargill, John Merkynfeld, John 
Dysney, Robert Haytfield, and William Beckwith, who say upon their oath 
that the said John Alburgh by his deed bearing date, &c, did give to Geof- 
frey le Scrop, &c., the manour of Masham, &c, and that the same descended 
as above and was seized into-the King's hands for high treason as above, 
and afterwards the K. granted the said manor of Masham to Henry Fitz 
Hugh, and so the said Jury upon their oath say that the manour aforesaid 
with its appurtenances, was given as in the deed of the said John shewn to 
the said Jury is contained, and that the said John le Scrop has right and 
title to the same manour as he supposed by his petition specified in the let- 
ters patents of the said lord the now King, to this Inquisition annexed. 



No. 36. 

Extract from an Inquisition taken at Richmond in 6th Hy. VI., A.D. 1427, 
to grant the King a Subsidy. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

Also they say that John le Scrope, chevalier, Sir William Normanville, 



500 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Knt, Robert Waddesley, William Bagtrout, and others, hold severally and 
amongst them in Masham half a Knight's Fee, of that fee which John de Wau- 
ton formerly held, so that neither of them holds a fourth part of one Knight's 

Fee, therefore nothing : also they say that the Abbot of Jervaulx hold in 

Elynstryng in perpetual Frankalmoigne, three carucates of land whereof 
John de Wauton holds in Masham, and the aforesaid three carucates of land 
are the temporalities of the same Abbot in the same town, for which he pays 
tenths when tenths are imposed nothing: also they say that the Ab- 
bot of Fountains holds in Allburgh, three carucates of land whereof twelve 
make a fee, of that aforesaid fee which John de Wauton formerly held in 
Masham, and they are the temporalities of the same Abbot in the same town, 
for which he pays tenths when tenths are imposed ; therefore nothing. 



No. 37. 

An Inquisition post mortem taken the l^th Hen. VI, A.D. 1435, No. 36 on 
the death of John Duke of Bedford, whereby it teas found that the said 
Duke held at the time of his death (amongst other things) in 
Masham. — One Fee by John Lord Scrope. 



No. 38, 

Extract from Inquisition jmst mortem, taken at Northallerton on the 2oth 
April, 16 Hy. VI, A.D. 1437, on the Attainder of Henry Lord le Scrop 
of 3Iasha?n. 

[translation.] 

That Henry Lord le Scrop of Masham, and of Faxnete, in the County of 
York, chevalier, deceased; who committed high treason againstthe LordHenry 
after the Conquest of England the 5th, late King of England, father of the 
lord the now King, on the 20th day of July in the 3rd year of the reign of the 
same late King ; and thereupon the 5th day of August in the same third year 
before Thomas late Duke of Clarence and other Lords, the Peers of the same 
Henry Lescrop, called to him by the same late Duke, by virtue of a certain 
commission of the aforesaid late King directed to the same late Duke convicted 
and adjudged to death, was seized in his demesne as of fee-simple on the oth 
day of August, and on the day and at the time of his forfeiture aforesaid, of 
the Manor of Masham with the appurtenances in the County of York, and of 
102 messuages, 24 cottages, 12 tofts, 500 acres of land, 133 acres of meadow, 
1000 acres of pasture, 140 acres of wood, and £33 of rents, with the appurtenan- 
ces in Masham, Heiagh, EiTyngton, Ellyngstring, Sutton, Fccrby, Burton- 
Constable, Burton-upon-Yore, Nostrefield, Thorn, Well, Tanfield, Aynderby 
with the Steeple, Humton, Garston, Berdene, Fosterley, Scotton, Rysewyke, 
Coverham, Caldeburgh, Melmorby, Aclethorp, Scrafton, Clyfton, Watlows, 
Bermyngham, Neweson, Bellerby, Richmond, Scurveton, Fyngale, West- 
wy tton, and Estwytton, with the appurtenances in the same County of York, 
and of 8 messuages, 4 tofts, 2 gardens, 2 oxgangs, and 15 acres of land, and 



APPENDIX. 50 1 

5 acres of meadow called Rymourlands in Masham, Ilketon, Feerby, Sutton, 
and Ellyngton, which the aforesaid Henry late Lord le Scrop newly pur- 
chased to him, his heirs and assigns, of one Thomas Rymourof Masham -.**** 
and further they say, upon their oaths, that Sir John Lescrop, Knt., on the 24th 
day of July, in the 3rd year of the reign of the said lord the now King, hath 
entered into all the aforesaid manors, lands, and tenements with the appur- 
tenances, claiming and supposing the parcels of the same manors, lands, and 
tenements, with the appurtenances, to be entailed to him by three forged deeds 
made under the name of John Aldburgh to one Sir Geoffrey Lescrop, Knt., 
ancestor of the same John Lescrop and the heirs of the same Geoffrey begot- 
ten, the date of which deeds are at York, the 22nd day of the month of Septem- 
ber in the 13 th year of the reign of the Lord Edward after the Conquest the 
3rd, late King of England : also claiming and supposing the residue of the 
same manors, lands, and tenements with the appurtenances to be entailed to 
him by a certain other forged deed made under the name of John Gunward- 
by to one Sir Henry Lescrop, Knt., the son and heir of the aforesaid Geoffrey, 
the ancestor of the same John Lescrop, and the heirs of the body of the 
same Henry begotten, and of which deed the date is at Coverham, the 22nd 
day of the month of February, in the 25th year of the reign of the Lord Ed- 
ward, after the Conquest of England the 3rd, late King of England. 
"Whereas the aforesaid deeds made under the name of the aforesaid John Ald- 
burgh, are not, nor ever were the deeds of the same John Aldburgh, neither did 
either of the aforesaid manors, lands, and tenements with the appurtenances 
specified in the same deeds, ever pass into the possession of the aforesaid 
Geoffrey, nor did the same John Aldburgh ever have anything in the same, 
nor give the same or any part thereof, to the aforesaid Geoffrey in form afore- 
said ; and whereas the aforesaid deed made under the name of the aforesaid 
John Gunwardby, is not, nor ever was the deed of the same John Gunwardby, 
nor did any of the aforesaid manors, lands, and tenements with the appurte- 
nances specified in the same deed, ever pass by the same deed into possession of 
the aforesaid Henry Lescrop, son of Geoffrey, nor had the same John Gun- 
wardby anything in the same, nor ever give the same nor any part thereof, to 
the aforesaid Henry Lescrop, son of Geoffrey, in form aforesaid : and moreover 
they say that the aforesaid John Lescrop hath continually occupied and still 
occupies all the aforesaid manors, lands, and tenements with the appurte- 
nances, from the aforesaid 24th day of July, unto the day of the taking of 
this Inquisition, and hath levied and received all the issues and profits there- 
of issuing by the same time. In testimony whereof to this Inquisition in- 
dented, as well the aforesaid escheator, as the Jurors aforesaid have put their 
seals. Given on the day, year, and at the place abovesaid. 



No. 39. 

The second Petition preferred to Parliament by John le Scrop, as set out on 
the Rolls of Parliament of the 20th Henry VI., A.D. 1444, Vol. 6, p. 41. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

To the King our sovereign Lord beseechcth meekly, the humble Liegeman 



502 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

John, the Lord Scrope, that it please your Highness of your most abundant 
grace tenderly to consider how that he in the Parliament holden at Westmin- 
ster, the 3rd year of oar noble reign, sued a Petition in the form that follow- 
eth. [Here follows the recital of the first Petition by the same John le Scrope, 
of the assent of the Lords and the King thereto and of the clause of Purview 
(Proviso) added to the same assent as is hereinbefore set out. Whereby it ap- 
peareth openly that the said clause of Purview was made without knowledge 
or assent of your said Commons, and against the statute in such case made in 
time of the said King your noble father, of the which statute a copy is an- 
nexed to this Bill, upon which Act in Parliament made in form as afore the 
said suppliant came afore my Lord of Winchester now Cardinal of England, 
then Chancellor of England, openly in the Chancery at Westminster in the 
term of Trinity then next following, and there shewed his good and suf- 
ficient [en] tail according to the said inquests [Inquisitions] contained and 
specified in the said Petition in Parliament after the form of the said Act of 
Parliament, desiring that he by authority of the same Parliament, might en- 
ter into all the said Lordships manors, lands, tenements, fees, advowsons, 
possessions and inheritances in the said [en] tails and enquests [Inquisitions] 
specified by virtue of the said Act in Parliament, which entry by the same 
authority was then and there granted and awarded him by the same Chan- 
cellor as it more plainly appeareth of Record in the said Chancery ; and the 
said suppliant in all the said Lordships, manors, lands, tenements, fees, ad- 
vowsons, possessions and inheritances in the said [en] tails and inquests [In- 
quisitions] specified by virtue of the said Act and Award, entered, and them 
peaceably enjoyed unto, now late, that Christopher Conyers late the Es- 
cheator of Yorkshire, seized certain of the said Lordships, manors, lands, ten- 
ements, fees, advowsons, possessions, and inheritances, into your noble hands 
by virtue of certain Inquisitions taken before him by virtue of his office, 
coloured by matters contained in the said clause of Purview ; in which In- 
quisitions it was found by men uninformed in anywise cf the right of the 
said beseecher, that the said Henry late Lord Scrop was seized the day of 
his said forfeiture of the said certain of the said Lordships, manors, lands, 
tenements, fees, advowsons, possessions, and inheritances in his demesne as 
of fee-simple ; whereupon your said beseecher hath been to his great anien- 
tisement [annihilation] of body and goods greatly vexed and laboured, and 
that the sovereign Lord of your excellent right wiseness, graciously consid- 
ering the said conscience of your said noble father, the authority of the said 
Parliament, the age and long service of the said beseecher to you, and to 
your noble progenitors without reward, and in especial how that at the time 
of the said Act and clause of Purview made all the said Lordships, manors, 
lands, tenements, fees, advowsons, possessions, and inheritances seized into 
your said noble father's hands by reason of the said forfeiture, as afore, were 
then severally granted by letters patents of the said King your noble father, or 
of your sovereign Lord to divers persons remaining at that time in your said 
hands, no part of them, so that ye by that clause of Purview nor anything 
therein contained may have no avail ; but your said beseecher continual vex- 



APPENDIX. 503 

ation and trouble against all good faith and conscience, will ordain by the 
advice of the Lords spiritual and temporal in this present Parliament by au- 
thority of the same Parliament, that the said entry so made by the said be- 
seecher and possession by him, had by force of the same entry in all the said 
Lordships, manors, lands, tenements, fees, advowsons, possessions, and inner - 
itances, with all their appurtenances in all the said Inquisitions specified by 
virtue of the said Act, be good, just, effectual, and available in law by au- 
thority of this same Parliament, the said clause of Purview or anything con- 
tained therein, and all things followed depending and executed thereupon 
notwithstanding ; and that the sovereign Lord of your said benign grace will 
by the said authority of this same Parliament, amove your said hands of all 
the said Lordships, manors, lands, tenements, fees, advowsons, possessions, 
and inheritances, with all their appurtenances in all the said Inquisitions 
specified, and to ordain that he by the same authority may enter into the 
same Lordships, lands, tenements, fees, advowsons, possesions, and inheritan- 
ces with all their appurtenances, and them to have, enjoy, and inherit ac- 
cording to his title found for him in the said enquests [Inquisitions] taken by 
virtue of the said Commissions granted upon the said petitions of right spe- 
cified in the said Act of Parliament, and thereto to be restored with the issues 
and profits thereof, taken and received from the day of the said Inquisitions 
afore the said Christopher Conyers, and that the Chancellor of England for 
the time being, grant and make to the said suppliant such and as many writs 
to such and as many officers, farmers, and others as needeth or shall need 
in this case, saving always to our sovereign Lord and your heirs the right, 
title, and interest of reversion of fee-simple that be fallen or may fall to you 
or to your heirs, because of the said forfeiture after the said [en] tails dis- 
pended [spent] ; and to all your liegemen their rights, title, and interest had 
or to be had, as well by any reason or cause lawful grown or sourding 
[arising] afore the date of the said [en] tails of the said Lordships, manors, 
lands, tenements, fees, advowsons, possessions, and inheritances, or any par- 
cel of them that the said suppliant entered in as afore, as by any discontinu- 
ance of them, or any parcel of them, since made by the said suppliant or any 
of his ancestors : and which Petition in the aforesaid Parliament being read, 
heard, and fully understood to the same Petition, with the advice and assent 
aforesaid, answer was thus made. — The King with the advice and assent of 
the Lords spiritual and temporal, and the Commons assembled in this pre- 
sent Parliament, hath granted all the contents of this Petition in all points. 



504 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



No. 40. 

An Inquisition post mortem taken the 31st Henry VI., A.D. 1452, No. 43, as 
to the Manors or Lands which were held by Sir William Fitzhugh, Knt., 
by which it was found that he was possessed at the time of his death of 
the following (amongst other lands) 

Viz:— 
Masham. — One messuage, two bovates of land, and one cottage > 

there 
Ellyngton. — One messuage and eight acres of land there 
Sutton near Masham. — One toft, one croft, and two acres of 

land there .. .. .. .. . .. 

Ylketon. — One messuage and eight acres of land there 
Feyrby. — One toft, and six acres of land there all called " Ry- 

mour Lands" .. .. .. .. , tJ 



No. 41. 

Grant from Lord le Scrop by way of Marriage Settlement to Tho?nas his son, 
and Elizabeth Daughter of Ralph Lord Greystock, of the Manors of 
Masham, Colsterdale in Mashamshire, Sutton, Fearby, Ellington t and 
Helagh, dated the Mh May, 31 Henry VL, A.D. 1453. 

[translation.] 

Know all men present and to come, that I, John Lord le Scrop, have 
given and granted, and by this my present deed indented, have confirmed tc 
Thomas my son, and Elizabeth * daughter of Ralph Lord de Graystoke 
[and] the heirs of their bodies between them lawfully begotten, my manors, 
of Masham, Colsterdale in Mashamshire, Sutton, Ferby, Ellington, an( 
Helagh and all other my lands and tenements in Masham, Colster- 
dale in Mashamshire, Sutton, Ferby, Elyngton, and Helagh aforesaid, witl 
their appurtenances : to have and to hold the said manors, lands, and tenements, 
with their appurtenances, to the aforesaid Thomas and Elizabeth and the 
heirs of their bodies between them lawfully begotten of me and my heirs ; 
rendering therefore to me and my heirs one rose yearly in the season of 
roses, if it shall be demanded ; and paying and supporting all other the 
charges and services therefore due and of right accustomed : saving and re-, 
serving to me the advowsons of the Churches of the same manors, and the 

* See ante p. 239, and note as to this marriage. 

t Mr. Davies in his York Records of the 15th Century says, that this Lord Greystock was 
Cousin to King Edward IY., his mother being half-sister of Cicely Duchess of York ; citing 
Collecteana Topog. et G-eneal. I, 297, and that he was frequently employed in public affairs, and 
that his name appears in several Commissions issued during the reign of Edw. IV. : also that his 
principal residence was the Manor-house of Hinderskelfe, on the site whereof the princely man- 
sion of Castle Howard now stands. 

None of the Peerages, however, mention this daughter of Lord G-reystock. 



APPENDIX. 505 

wild animals, and also the woods of and in the manors, lands, and tenements 
aforesaid ; except that the same Thomas and Elizabeth, and the heirs of 
their bodies between them lawfully begotten, and their tenants there as well 
at will as for a term of years, shall have and receive in the woods aforesaid, 
sufficient timber and wood for reasonable house bote, hay bote, fire bote, and 
plough bote, when they shall have need by the view and delivery of the sur- 
veyors, receivers, or foresters of me, the said Lord le Scrop ; and if the said 
Thomas and Elizabeth die without heir of their bodies between them law- 
fully begotten, then all the aforesaid manors, lands, and tenements, with the 
appurtenances (except before excepted) shall remain to the right heirs of the 
same Thomas and their heirs ; and I, the aforesaid Lord le Scrop, and my 
heirs, will warrant and defend the said manors, lands, and tenements, with 
the appurtenances (except before excepted) to the aforesaid Thomas and 
Elizabeth, and the heirs of their bodies between them lawfully begotten 
against all men for ever. In testimony whereof, to this my deed indented, 
I have affixed my seal, these being witnesses — Henry Thebaytes, John 
Stafford, and Nicholas Belle (Rector of the Parish Church of Watlows), and 
others. Given the 4th day of the month of May, in the 31st year of the 
reign of King Henry, after the Conquest of England the 6th. 



No. 42. 

An Inquisition post mortem, taken the 15th Edw. IV., A.D. 1475, No. 41, as to 
the Manors or Lands ivhichicere held by Sir Thomas Scrope of Ma sham, 
by which it was found that he was possessed at the time of his death of 
the following (amongst other manors) 

Viz :— 

Thornton-Watlows. — * Great Burton-upon- the- Yore — Masham ) 

Manor . . . . . . . . . . . . > York. 

Clifton Manor . . . . . . . . . . ) 



No. 43. 

An Inquisition post mortem, taken the 1st Rich. III., A.D. 1483, No. 38, as to 
the Manors or Lands which were held by Richard Pygott, by which it 
teas found that he was p>ossessed at the time of his death of the following 
(amongst other manors) 

Viz:— 

Manor of Little Bubton-upon-the-Yore * . . . . ] 

Masham. — Messuages, &c. . . . . . . . . I York. 

Ferriby. — Messuages, &c. . . . . . . . . \ 

* This Inquisition shews that the Low, or Little-Burton, Estate did not come to the Wyvill 
Family through the Scropes, as is generally supposed. We here see that it belonged to the Pigots 
of Clotherholme near Ripon ; and we have already seen ante p. 342 that Joan Pigot (a member of 
this family) having married Robert Wyvil, brought this Estate with her into the Wyvil family. 

KK 



506 MASHAM AND MASHAMSH1RE. 



No. 44. 

An Account of the manors, lands, tenements, rents, reversions, and services, 
advowsons of Churches and Chantries, and all other hereditaments, in 
the County of York, and in the County of the City of York, the Counties 
of Lincoln, Nottingham, and Northumberland, which ivere the inher- 
itance of Jeoffrey Lord Scrope of Upsall, as they are parcelled out to his 
several heirs by the Partition Deed dated 10 October, 12 Hen. VIII., 
Anno Domini 1520. (Siointon MSS.) 

All the manors of Clifton, Nosterfield, Burton-Constable, Hunton, Gares- 
ton [Garrison] "VVoodhall, Unthanke, and all lands and tenements in Clifton, 
Nosterfield, Burton-Constable, Hunton, Gareston, "VVoodhall, and Unthanke, 
aforesaid, with the appurtenances in the County of York ; and the Reversion 
of the Manors of Carleton Scrope in the County of Lincoln, Walton in the 
County of Northumberland, 'and all the lands and tenements in Carleton 
Scrope, and Walton aforesaid, with the appurtenances, after the death of 
Dame Eleanor Scrope widow of Lord Rauf Scrope, Lord of Upsall : and the 
Reversion of the Manor of Suthmuskham aforesaid, with the appurtenances, 
after the death of Henry Lord Scrope of Bolton, and the said dame Eleanor 
Scrope, and the Reversion of all the lands and tenements in Harworth in 

the County of with the appurtenances, after the death of the said 

Lord Henry, and 13d. of yearly rent going forth of the Manors of Driffield 
in the County of York, and Sowthursby in the County of Lincoln, with the 
advowson of the Church of Fyngall, the advowson of two Chantries founded 
in the Cathedral Church of York, the advowson of the Church of Carlton 
Scrope, and the advowson of the Church of Hunton, are allotted to Nicholas 
Sterley, Elizabeth his wife, Charles Dransfield, Alice his wife, Rauf Batty, 
Mary his wife, Lancelot! Esshe, Dorothie his wife, Marmadiike Wyvill, and 
Agnes his wife (as in the right of their wives, daughters, and heirs of Dame 
Elizabeth Fitz Randulf, sister and one of the heirs of the said Jeffrey Lord 
Scrope) and to their heirs for their equal purpartie and part to them belonging 
of all the manors, lands, and tenements, which were the inheritance of the said 
Lord Scrope of Upsall, within the Counties aforesaid. 

All the manors of Aynderby, Woodlathes, Ecclesall in the County of 
York, the manor of Barnolby in the County of Lincoln, and all lands and 
tenements in Aynderby, Woodlathes, Eccleshall, and Barnolby aforesaid, 
and the Reversion of the manors of Upsall, South Kylvyngton, Thornbergh, 
Over-Silton, Nether-Silton, and Scroton aforesaid, with the appurtenances, 
after the death of the said dame Eleanor Scrop ; and the Reversion of the manor 
of Waddlesworth in the County of York, and all the lands and tenements in 
Waddesworth in the County of York, and all lands and tenements in 
Waddesworth after the death of Elizabeth Aire, widow ; and the Reversion 

These observations, however, do not apply to the High-Burton or Great-Burton Estate ; which as 
will be seen by the Document No. 42, was formerly the property of the Scrope family, and as such 
fell to the ancestors of the Wyvils on the partition of the estates of the Scropes. 



APPENDIX. 507 

of the manor of Colsterdale in the County of York, and a yearly rent of 
£10 12.3., going out of the manor of Bilton in the County of the City of 
York ; and all lands and tenements in Colsterdale aforesaid, with the appur- 
tenances, after the death of Henry Lord Scrope of Bolton, and 18s. lid., 
going yearly out of the manors of Masham and Watlows, with the appurte- 
nances in the County of York ; with the advowson of the Church of Kylvyng- 
ton, the advowson of the Vicarage of Aynderby, advowson of the Parish 
Church of St. Martyn in York, are allotted to Sir Thomas Strangwais, Knt., 
son and heir of Dame Alice one of the sisters and heirs of the said Henry 
Lord Scrope, and to his heirs, for his equal purpuartie in part to him belong- 
ing, of all the manors, lands, and tenements which were the inheritances of 
the said Lord Scrope of Upsall, in the Counties aforesaid. 

All the Manors of Masham and Watlass in the County of York, and all 
lands and tenements in Masham and Watlous aforesaid, with the appurte- 
nances ; and the Reversions of the manor of Driffield in the County of York, 
and Sutheresby in the County of Lincoln ; and all lands and tenements in 
Driffield and Suthuresby aforesaid, with the appurtenances, after the death of 
the said Dame Elionor Scrope, with the advowsons of the Churches of Scroton, 
Watlous, Kyrbyknolle, and the advowson of a Chantry in Driffield aforesaid ; 
are all allotted to Dame Marjery Danby (the third sister unto the said Jef- 
frey) and to her heirs for her equal purpartie and part of all the said manors, 
lands, and tenements which were the inheritance of the said Lord Scrope of 
Upsall.* 

No. 45. 

Extract from " The Valor f of the Scite and demanes with the Graunges late in 
the occupation qfthesaide late Monastery of Fountains ; and also the Valor 
of dyvers lordshipps, maners, lands, and tenements, which were parcell of 
the lands belonging to the same late Monastery, with the Valew of the 
woods growyng upon the same," so far as relates to property lying within 
the limits of the Parish of Masham. {Bate 9th September 32 Hen. 
VIII., A.D. 1540.] 

The Graunge of Nutwith Cote. 
Theis parcells make this hole Graunge, and is of the parishe of Masham 

* This Document shews how a portion only of the estates of the last Lord Scrope of Masham, 
was divided at his death amongst his co-heiresses. It will be seen by this Document that Marjery 
Danby had allotted to her the manors of Masham, Thornton Watlass, and Driffield in Yorkshire, 
and the manor of Suthersby in Lincolnshire, besides the advowsons of the Churches of Scruton, 
Thornton Watlass, Kirkby Knowl, and a Chantry in Driffield. This, however, was not by any 
means all the property which came to her by the death of the last Lord Scrope of Masham, for by 
another Deed of Partition (relating to other estates) dated at Northallerton on the 11th December, 
23 Henry VIII., A.D. 1532, there was assigned to her son Christopher Danby, Esq., " the manor of 
Neyland, and all lands, tenements, and hereditaments in Stoke in the County of Suffolk, and the 
manor of Poulscray in the County of Kent, the manor of Kettilby and Howell in the County of 
Leicester, and the Parke of Horsely, called Neyland Park in the County of Essex, and the free 
Chapel of Neyland in the County of Suffolk, and also all lands, tenements, and hereditaments m 
Neyland, Poulscray, Kettilby, Howell, and Newland Park aforesaid." 

t I am indebted to John R. Walbran, Esq., F.S.A. (the author of the Memorials of Fountains 



508 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

with Kirkby Malsherd, and be all the lands of the late Monastery ther. 
Richard Bekeweth, * Lucy his wyfe, and Cristofer t nis sonne hold the 
Graunge called Nutwith Cote, with edificez, with garthings adionyng, and 
one close called Slee Close, cont. by estimacion iiij acres, vjs. viijd.— -iij closes 
of arrable lond and medoo callid Corne Closes, cont. by estimacion xx acres, 
vjs. viijd. A close of arrable land and medoo called Cow Close, cont. by 
estimacion xij acres, xvs. A close of medoo callid Heck Hed, cont. by esti- 
macion xij acres, xvs. A close callid Flat Close, cont. by estimacion xij 
acres, xijs. viijd., iij closes of pasture adionynge callid Grene Closez, other- 
wise callid Cow-pastore, cont. by estimacion xl acres, xxs., ij closes of past- 
ure called Cote Hed Closes, contenynge by estimacion iiij acrez, iiijs., and 
the herbage of a wood callid Flatwith Springe, cont. by estimacion xx acrez, 
nil ; in all by yere iiij" 

Abbey) for this important record, which was copied by him from a paper-roll now in the possess- 
ion of the Rev. H. J. Ingilby of Ripley Castle, and bears the signature of James Rokeby, an Audi- 
tor of the Court of Augmentations. 

* It appears by Mr. Walbran's work above alluded to, that the Beckwith family had settled 
at Nutwith Cote long before the date of this document ; and that a Richard Beckwith was hold- 
ing the Grange of Nutwith Cote, and keeping certain of the Abbot's cattle and sheep there as 
early as in the year 1453, and was at the same time holding the office of Forester within the manor 
of Aldborough. It appears also by the Compotus Stauri of Fountains, that in 1481 a Richard Beck- 
with was living at Nutwith Cote, and that he annually appeared at the Abbey with his accounts 
from the year 1481 to the year 1494, with the exception of the year 1489 ; when he was repre- 
sented by his son James. It is also stated in Abbot Huby's Rental of 1496, that Richard Beckwith 
held this Grange for a term of years at the annual rent of 305. — he being also bound to keep 20 
cows of the stock of the Monastery, and to return of their annual proceeds 13st. 41bs. of butter at 
1 2d. per stone ; 26st. 81bs. of cheese at 8d. per stone ; with 10 stirketts, each to be worth 4s. By 
a Lease dated 4th July, 1495, the Abbot and Convent of Fountains demised to Richard Beckwith, 
Catherine his wife, and Richard their son " All their Graunge or Loge callid Nutwith Cote, with 
all the appurtenances in the Parish of Masham in ye shire of York," and also a tenement in the 
same Parish called Thwate-house, with its lands and appurtenances, to hold the same from the 
feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross, then last past to the end and term of 48 years, upon the 
same terms as is mentioned abo^e ; and by another Lease dated the 4th July, 1538, the Abbot and 
Convent of Fountains demised to Richard Beckwith, Lucy his wife, and Christopher his son (being 
the same persons as are mentioned in the text) at the old rent of 30s., and £4 the Graunge of 
Nutwith Cote, with the tenement of Thwaite-house from the feast of the Invention of the Holy 
Cross then last past for the term of 48 years. I need hardly mention that soon after the granting 
of this last mentioned Lease, the dissolution of Fountains Abbey occurred when King Hen. YIII. 
seized upon and appropriated the possessions of the Abbey. 

t This Christopher Beckwith (according to the Heraldic Visitation of Durham, taken in 1615) 
married Catherine Tunstall and had issue by her, Thomas, Robert, and Anthony, who also resided 
at Nutwith Cote. Thomas, the eldest son above named, was the father of Christopher, who was 
the father of Thomas, Roger, and Christopher. — This last mentioned Christopher married in 1679 
(as his second wife) Ellen, daughter of Welbury Norton, Esq., of Sawley, sister of Thomas Norton, 
grandfather of the first Lord Grantley, and his son is supposed to have been the last of the Beck- 
withs who resided at Nutwith Cote. 

The following entries which I have extracted from the Act Book of the Peculiar Court of Mas- 
ham, will shew that this branch at least of the Beckwith Family had not as yet seen fit to desert 
the faith of their forefathers, notwithstanding the petty persecutions and annoyances they had to 
undergo at the hands of the puritanical faction which was at that time the dominant, although 
the least numerous and respectable party in this parish. 

On the 22nd April, 1594, Anthony Beckwith of Nutwith Cote (the person of that name above- 
mentioned) was excommunicated by the Peculiar Court of Masham "for that a proper young wo- 
jnan was brought to his house and there bare a child begotten in fornication, and he hayth suf- 
fered her to depart unpunished." And on the 18th August, 1624, Christopher Beckwith of Nut- 
with Cote, and Ann Smyth, alias Beckwith, were presented in the same Court for" being married 
in a Priest's house without their Parish Church, without licence or banns asking." 









APPENDIX. 509 



Aldburgh Graunge. * 

This is a manore, the hole particulars whereof do appere in this booke and 
be a rentyd in this valew ; and theis parcells be of the parishe of Masham 
with Kirkby Malsherd, and of Tanfeld : and theis with the said members, 
make the hole and entere manore of Aldburgh. f 

Aldbrugh Graung. 

Robert Browne J holdeth the Manore and Graunge of Aldbrugh, with the 
howses and boyldings thereunto pertenyinge, with garthings adionyng, vs. 
A close of pasture callid Somer Close helez, contenyinge by estimacion x acres, 
xs. A close of pasture callid Upper Lees and Nether Lez, contenyinge clx 

The Beckwiths were succeeded at Nutwith Cote, by another family of the name of Smurth- 
waite, but whether they were connected by marriage or otherwise I have not been able to ascer- 
tain. Marmaduke Smurthwaite who was lessee of Nutwith Cote, by his will dated the 27th April, 
1633, desired "his bodie to be buried in the Parish Church of Masham," and directed his son 
Richard to pay out of Nutwith Cote twenty bushels of rie, four of wheat, eight of barley, and 
twenty of oats yearly, for and towards the education " of five of his children until the youngest 
shall obtain the age of sixteen years." 

It will be seen (ante p. 287) that Richard Smurthwaite of Nutwith Cote (who was the son and 
successor of Marmaduke Smurthwaite before mentioned) on the 7th October, 1635, married Eliza- 
beth Norton of Swinton, by whom he had a daughter, Catherine Smurthwaite, who on the 11th 
January, 1662, married Simon Bartlett (Avho afterwards took up his residence at Nutwith Cote). 
Simon Bartlett was succeeded there by his son John Bartlett. This last mentioned John Bartlett 
having died in August, 1706, he was succeeded by his son (another John Bartlett) who dying with- 
out issue on the 18th Dec, 1769, was succeeded at Nutwith Cote by his sister Catherine, then the 
wife of John Ascough of Nutwith Cote, gentleman. She was succeeded at Nutwith Cote, by 
her eldest son John Ascough, who dying without issue on the 6th February, 1774, was succeeded 
by his only brother Thomas Ascough. Thomas Ascough having died without issue in 1786 or 
17S8, Nutwith Cote came into the possession of the Pickersgill family, from whom it passed by will 
to the late James Ewbank, Esq., of Middleham, when it came to be occupied, as it still is, by the 
Ewbank family ; and on the death of the last mentioned gentleman was sold to the Trustees of 
the Swinton Estates, and thus again became united with them after a severance from them of 
some 700 or 800 years. 

* Aldburgh was acquired by the Monks of Fountains by a grant thereof to them, from Roger 
de Mowbray, the then Lord of Mashamshire, made very soon after he came into the posession of 
his inheritance. He states in the Grant alluded to, that Aldburgh had previously been granted by 
his father Nigel de Albini to the Monks of Pontigny in France. 

t I have elsewhere stated that although the Township or Constablewick of Burton-upon-Yore 
(in which Aldburgh is situate) forms part of the Parish of Masham, it is not within the Manor of 
Masham and Mashamshire, and we here see that Aldburgh is a perfectly independent manor to it- 
self and comprizes the whole of the lands there which formerly belonged to the monks of Fountains. 

t In Abbot Huby's Rental of 1496, it is returned that a William Browne held the Manor or 
Grange of Aldbrough for a term of years at the annual rent of £17 10s., including a rent-charge 
of 4*. id. to Richmond Castle, being bound also to return annually of the issues of twenty cows, 
which he had to keep of the store of the Abbey, thirteen stones four pounds of butter, twenty 
eight stones eight pounds of cheese, and ten stirketts : and also to keep from Michaelmas to the 
3rd of May, four hundred of their hogg sheep, the maintenance of which was valued at 80s., and 
on the 20th May, 1535, the Abbot and Convent of Fountains demised one half of their Grange of 
Aldborough to Robert Brown, who was to hold it from the 25th March then last past, for the term 
of forty years at the annual rent of £5 3s. Sd., to keep a horse, ten cows, and a bull, and to render 
annually of the offspring of the said cows, five stirketts or stirks of one year old ; also thirteen 
stones four pounds of butter, or the value of each at the election of the officials of the Convent, ac- 
cording to the custom had in Nidderdale. — See Walbran's Memorials of Fountains, p. 327. 

On the 2nd Dec, 1635, and the 12th September, 1637, William Browne of Ilton, gentleman, was 
presented in the Peculiar Court of Masham, for not paying his assessment, for which offence he 
was on the last day of February, 1638, excommunicated. 



510 MAS HAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

acres, iiip- A close of pasture callid Yone Close, cont. by estimacion xvj 
acres, xvjs. A close of medoo callid Stable ing-, contenying by estimacion xvj 
acres, xxijs. : ij closes of arrable grounde over Stable ing, cont. by estima- 
cion xij acres, xijs. A close of arrable lond lyeing by the lane syde, conten- 
yinge by estimacion iiij acres, iiijs. A close of medoo callid Thakeley Wrey, 
cont. by estimacion xv acres, xxs. ; ij closes adionynge called Wheat Close 
and Kaver Close, containing by estimacion viij acrez, viijs. A close of me- 
doo callid Grenez, cont. by estimacion x acres, xiiijs. iiijc?. A close of medoo 
callid Holmez, cont. by estimacion xij acres, xxiiijs. A close of medoo callid 
Bigg ing, cont. by estimacion iij acres, vs. A close of pasture callid Wood 
Close, cont. by estimacion vj acrez, vjs. A close of pasture callid Cow Close, 
cont. by estimacion lx acrez, xls. A close of medoo callid Sekeley lond, 
contenynge by estimacion xvj acrez, xviijs. viijc?. A close of pasture callid 
Phesaunts' bushe, cont. by estimacion xvj acrez, viijs. A close of medoo cal- 
lid the High Nuk, cont. by estimacion xx acres, xxs. A close callid Ridding 
ings, conteyninge by estimacion xij acres, xijs. A parcell of ground callid 
Thevis Gill, cont. by estimacion ij acres, xijd. A close callid Eke hed, 
cont. by estimacion v acres, vs. The herbage of a wood callid Aldburgh Wood, 
cont. by estim. xxx acres, nil ; in all xvj^ xs. 

North Cote. 

Richard Lister * holdeth a Tenement or Graunge callid North Cote, with 
edificez, landes, medos, andpastores thereunto belonging; lyeing within and 
parcell of the said Graunge of Aldburgh aforesaid, and is worth by yere vip« 
xxiip- xs. 

Pott Graung. 

Parcell of the man ore of Aldburgh f and the morez and wasts unto theis 
parcells belonginge, be callid Pott-more and Cowme Fell, and be the propre 
soyle and ground of the late Monastery, and is parcell of this Valew, and 
makez the hole graunge of Pott, and is of the Parishe of Masham with 
Kirkby Malsherd ; and the same parcells contenyth all the hole lands of the 
late Monastery ther. 

* A person of the name of Thomas Lyster, held the Grange of Aldborough under Fountains 
in 1456, and until 1482, when Richard Robinson, his son, appeared for him at the annual Audit, 
and afterwards was tenant there until 1488-89, when he died. — Walbran's Memorials of Fountains, 
p. 329. 

In the year 1552, a Mr. Richard Lyster, gentleman, was residing in Masham. — The will of his 
wife will be found in a subsequent part of this work, from which it seems that she was nearly related 
to the Dodsworths and the Beckwiths, of this Parish. 

t We here see that Pott-Grange is parcel of the manor of Aldborough. — In confirmation of 
which I may state that it was formerly the practice of the tenants of Pott-Grange, Ashhead, and 
of other places in that neighbourhood, which formerly formed part of the possessions of the monks 
of Fountains, to appear at, and to do suit and service as tenants of the Manor Court of Fountains 
Earth ; and that this practice continued to be acted upon until about 80 years ago, when Mr. 
Danby required his tenants to cease answering at the Manor Court of Fountains Earth, and in lieu 
thereof to attend, and do suit and service at bis own Manorial Court at Masham. Since that time, 
but not before, these places have been considered and treated as situate in, and forming part of 
the manor of Masham and Mashamshire — a position which can by no means be supported. I pre 
sume that Mr. Danby considered that as his ancestor Sir Thomas Danby, had in the 29th Elizabeth, 






APPENDIX. 511 



A Parcell of Pott Graunge. 

Sir X'pofer Danby, Knyght, holdeth a parcell of the Graunge callid Pott, 
that is to saye : — a tenement with other edificez, garthez, and garthings 
thereunto adionyng, iijs. iiijJ. A close callid Sowrye Close, cont. by estim. 
x acrez, xs. A close of pasture callid Somersyde, cont. by estim. xxx acrez, 
xxxs. A close of medoo callyd How Ing, cont. by estimacion ij acrez, ijs. 
viije?. A close of medoo callid Stubbe, cont. by estimacion viij acres, xs. 
A close of medoo callid Morehouse Ing, cont. by estim. xviij acrez, xxiijs. A 
close of pasture callid Gremesdell, cont. by estimacion xvj acres, xs. A close 
of medoo callid Wood Ing, cont. by estimacion x acrez, xiijs. iiije?. A close 
of pasture callid Horse Close Bank, contenying by estimacion xvj acres, 
xs. viij^. A close of pasture callid the Ing-bank, Sive Intak, cont. by esti- 
macion x acres, vjs. viijd. A close of pasture callid Littell Nether Wood, 
inclosed within Lighton Park, which close the said Sir Cristofer Danby Knt., 
occupieth in recompence of xxvjs. viije?., for an annuall rent for a kow rake dew 
unto him at the said Graunge of Pott, and paith yerely nil, and common of 
pastore upon the more callid Pott more, withoute stynte belonge to the said 
Graunge vj K - viij c?. 

An other parte of Pott Graunge. 

Cristofer Bekeweth and John Bekew* * his son, hold the iij part of Pott 
Graung, that is to say : — A mansion house with other buildings and with 
garthings adionynge, iijs. iiijc?. A close of medoo and pastore callid Helme 
Close, cont. by estimacion xxx acres, xxxs. A close of pasture callid Rughe 
Close, cont. by estimacion xxx acrez, xxs. A close of course medoo called 
Stote Fauld, cont. by estimacion xxx acrez, xxs. A close of medoo caltyd 
Ox-over Kell plane, cont. by estimacion vi acrez, vjs. A close of medoo cal- 
lyd William Ing, cont. by estimacion vj acrez, vs. A close of medoo callid 
Steward Ing, cont. by estimacion v acres, vs. A close of pastore callid Calfe 
Close, cont. by estimacion x acres, vs. A close of pasture callid Nether- 
wood, cont. by estimacion xx acrez, xiijs. iiij^., in all by yere, with com- 
mon of pasture upon the more callid Pott more, without stynt, iirp- xiijs. 
viij d. 

ASHEHED, PARCELL OF THE SAID POTT GRAUNGE. 

Richard Atkinson f holdeth a tenement with edificez callid Nether Ashe- 
hed with garthings adionying, iijs. iiijd. A close of pasture callid Ing Close, 
cont. xij acres, ijs. A close of course medoo, callid Netherside, cont. by esti- 

bought Pott-Grange and all claims of right to the Royalties and Wastes thereof, that it thereupon 
ceased to belong to Fountains Earth ; and that the tenants were not therefore bound to do suit 
and service at that Court : it may, however, be very true that the tenants were by force of the 
Grant released from doing suit and service at the Court of Fountains Earth, yet that circumstance 
did not, and could not (especially since the passing of the statute Quia Emptores) make the lands 
parcel of another manor, viz :— the Manor of Masham and Mashamshire, as appears to have been 
assumed by him. 

* Christopher Beck with and John Beckwith, here named, are supposed to be of the same family 
as the Beckwiths of Nutwith Cote, mentioned ante p. 508. 

t William Atkinson held one part of the Grange of Pott in 1496, where William and Henry 



512 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHTRE. 

maciou xl acres, xxvjs. viij J. A close of pasture callid New Close, cont. by 
estimacion v acres, xxd A close of pasture callid Arnagiil Close, cont. by 
estiuiacion vj acres, ijs. A close of course pasture callid Cow Close, cont. by 
estimacion xl acrez, vjs. xiijd. A close of pasture callid Calf Close, cont. by 
estimacion vj acres, ijs. A close of pasture callid Skell funte yate close, cont. 
by estim. vij acres, ijs. iiijd. A close of pasture callid Stirk Close, cont. by es- 
tim. vj acres, ijs. A close of pasture callid Tuppe Close, cont. by esti- 
macion ij acres, xvjc?., in all with common of pasture upon the mores by yere 
\s. 

Over Ashehed, parcell of Pott Graunge aforesaid. 

John Bane * holdith a tenemente callid Overeshed with edificez, garthers, 
and garthings, adionynge, iijs. iiijc?. A close of medoo callid West Ing, 
cont. by estimacion xij acres, xijs. A close of medoo callid Este Ing, cont. 
by estimation viij acrez, viijs. A close of pasture callid Cauf Faw, conteny- 
ing by estimacion v acres, iijs. iiijd. A close of medoo callid New Close, con- 
teyninge by estimacion iij acres, iijs. iiije?. A close of pastore callid Cow 
Close, conteyninge by estimacion x acrez, iijs. iiije?., in all with common of 
pasture upon Come Fell, without stynt, by yere xxxiijs. iiije?. 

xiiiip- xviijs. viij c?. 

Atkinson had an interest in 1480. The Abbot and Convent of Fountains by Indenture dated 2nd 
January, 1518, demised to Margaret Atkinson of Pott, and Richard Atkinson her son "all that 
parte of ther Graunge and loge callid Pott, with all closez, medowez, pasturez, &c." apppurtenant 
then in the tenure of the lessees, from the 3rd of May then last past, to the end of thirty years, at 
the annual rent of 16s. It was also stipulated that " they yerly, during all the said terme, shall fe- 
manly, sayfly, and surly kepe upon the said tenement at their proper costes and charges, of the 
gudes and catell of the said Abbot and Convent, teen kye, two whyes, and two styrkes, at all times 
in the yere, and of the isshowes, revenuez, and profettes of the same kye and whies, yerely con- 
tent, and pay and deliver at the Chese-howse of the Monastery of Founteyns, thyrteen stones and 
four pownds of chese, and sex stones and viiith powndes of butter, of gude and lawfull meete suf- 
ficient in weight afore the fest of SayntMartyn in Winter, yerely, at the sight of the monke officer 
in the same for the tyme being," and likewise of the issues of the said ten kye and two whies, .de- 
liver five stirks worth four shillings each. They also " graunteth that they shall every thirde 
yere, duryng all the said terme, with Robert Loge or Oder in his rowmeth for the tyme beying, 
femanly, savely, and surely keep upon the pastor appertenying to the Graunge and loge of Pott 
aforesaid, at yair propir costes and charges, a fioke of weders of the nowmber of iijc. of foresaid 
Abbot and Convent," from 29th September to the 3rd May. 

On the 17th April, 1536, this Lease was renewed to Richard Atkynson of Pott, from the 3rd 
May then last past " unto the ende and terme of his lyffe naturall," upon the old terms and con- 
ditions. 

Several of the Atkinsons long after the Reformation remained attached to the Roman Catho- 
lic religion. On the 8th April, 161S, Richard Atkinson and Agnes his wife, Margaret Atkinson 
and Marmaduke Atkinson her son, were severally presented in the Peculiar Court at Masham, 
" for standing excommunicate in not appearing to answer their Recusancy." — Walbran's Memo- 
rials of Fountains. 

Several members of this family still linger in the Parish, amongst whom I may mention as 
such, is Mr. Joseph Atkinson of R,ound-Hill. . 

* The Banes, like most of the more respectable and substantial inhabitants of this Parish at 
that time, appear to have been Roman Catholics ; and as such to have been cited on different pre- 
tences in our Ecclesiastical Court here. On the 13th September, 1633, the wife of Humphrey Bane 
of Somerfield, was presented in it " for not coming to Church to give God thanks for her safe de- 
liverance in child-birth ;" and Matthew Baines " for carding on two several Sabbath days, " and 
on the 18th December, 1634, the 12th April, 1636, the 9th Oct., 1638, and the 8th June, 1641, the 
former was again presented as a Popish Recusant, and excommunicated accordingly. 



APPENDIX. 513 



The Reste of the Manor of Aldbrugh. 

Theis be parcell of the manor of Aldbrughe, and be of the Parishe of 
Masham with Kirkeby Malsherd, and be al the lands of the late Monastery- 
there. — Item. — the wastes and morez belonging to the same Townez is cal- 
led Rowmore, and is the propre soyle of the same late Monastery, and con- 
tenyd in this Valew. 

Swynton. 

Item. — ther be vij tenements late in the tenure of Rauf Bekewyth, * 
ter, xijs. Richard Slater, f xij.s. William Chapelhouse, J Richard xijs. 
xxxiijs. iiije?. John Adamson, § xiijs. iiijc?. John Bekwith, xs. John Sla- 

Pott-Grange as we have seen ante 297, was long the residence of an influential family of the 
name of Ascough, and was the birth-place of William Ascough, Bishop of Salisbury, who was mur- 
dered in Jack Cade's Rebellion on the 29th June, 1450 : — Thomas Ascough who was Sheriff of 
the City of York in 1592-93 ; Robert Ascough who was twice Lord Mayor of the City of York, viz : 
— in the years 1580 and 1593, and also M.P. for York from 1 588 to 1592 ; and Sir Robert Ascough, 
who was twice Lord Mayor, viz : — 1606 and 1617, and also M.P. for York. 

The family appears to have been connected with the monks of Fountains, for according to the 
Compotus of the Bursar of Fountains for 1457, William Askwith was keeper of the Abbot's cattle 
at Pott-Grange ; and in the Compotus Stauri of 20 Edward IV., A.D. 1480, Thomas Askwith ap- 
pears to hold a mediety of Pot-Grange, and to render the same service until 1488, when Miles Ask- 
with appears in his room and was resident there in 1490, and in 1496, Margaret Askwith was ten- 
ant of a mediety of Pot-Grange.— See Walbran's Memorials of Fountains, p. 332. 

Benjamin Pulleine Ascough, Esq., now Mayor (for the second time) of the City of Ripon, is 
descended from this notable family. 

* By an Indenture dated 20th February, 1518, the Abbot and Convent of Fountains demised to 
John Beckwith pf Pott, and John his son a tenement, that is to say — one toft built upon, and a 
croft, also 8 acres of land, and one acre of meadow in the vill and territory of Swinton in the 
tenure of the said John of Pott, for the term of their natural lives and that of the longer liver, at the 
annual rent of 12s. — Walbran's Memorials of Fountains, p. 333. 

t In 1496, John Slater and Richard Slater, each held a tenement in Swinton of the monks of 
Fountains. — See Walbran's Memorials of Fountains, p. 333. 

On the 9th Sept., 1622, " Anna the wife of Jo. Slater" of Swinton, husbandman, was presented 
in the Peculiar Court of Masham, as a Popish Recusant. On the 18th Dec. 1628, John Slater was 
also presented in the same Court as a Popish Recusant and an excommunicate person ; and also 
again on the 13th May, 1631. On the 20th March, 1638, " Thomas Slaiter, Schoolmaster at Elling- 
string" was presented in the same Court " for teaching schollars without a licence and for stand- 
ing excommunicate." — his will is dated 30th March, 1667. On the 4th March, 1612, Peter Slater 
of Ellingstring, Slayter, bequeathed his cottage there to his wife "upon condicion that if any of 
my children shall chance to fall sicke, she shall lett them have house-roome, bed-roome, and fyre- 
roome within the same till they be recovered." 

X William Chapellowe held this tenement at the same rent in 1496. — See Walbran's Memorials 
of Fountains, p. 333. 

§ John Adamson held this tenement in 1496. — Ibid. 

On the 28th Feb., 1627, John Adamson and his wife of Swinton, "were presented in the Pecu- 
liar Court of Masham as Popish Recusants," and also on the 13th May, 1631. On the 13th May, 
1635, they are presented again for the same offence along with their daughter Margaret. On the 
20th March, 163S, " Margaret Adamson, the wife of John Adamson of Swinton," was presented in 
the same Court " for looking corne on the Sabbath day in summer last ; she being rebuked for so 
doing, answered, that she was better employed than they that went to Church to pray ;" and on 
the 3rd June, 1641, John Adamson and his wife, and Anthony Adamson, John Adamson, Henry 
Adamson, and Margaret Adamson, were all excommunicated for being Popish Recusants. John 
Adamson, of Swinton, Yeoman, by his will dated 30th May, 1642, gave unto his son John Adamson, 
all his lands and tenements in Thornton Rust, to his son Henry Adamson, " all such lands and 
tenements as I purchased of Maior Norton, gent., Swinton ;" and to his son Anthonie Adamson, 

LL 



514 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Beckwith, xiiijs. iijc?., with all lauds, medoos, pastors, commons, and wastes 
thereunto belonginge, whiche be parcell of the sade Graunge of Aldbrughe, 

in all by yere evjs. 

Ilkton. 

Item. — There be v tenements in Ilketon, late in the tenure of William 
Lodge * xijs. William Stele, vis. viijc/. John Lambert, f ijs- John Pot, J 
xijs. Symond Smerthuate, xijs., and in fre rent for the lands of Simon Law- 
son, § vje?., with all lands, medoos, pastors, commons and wastes unto the same 
tenements belonging ; which be parcell of the sade Graung of Aldbrughe, in 

all by yere xlvs. ije?. 

Wardenmersk. 

Item. — The herez of Jamez Danby, Knight, hold a parcell of ground nere 

the water ther, ijs., and a tenement ther late in the holdinge of Thomas Mas- 

terman || xiiijs., with all the lands, medoos, pastors, commons, and wastes 

therunto belonging ; which be parcell of the sade maner of Aldbrughe, in all 

by yere xvjs. 

viip. vijs. ijc?. 

Signed James Rokeby. 



No. 46. 
Copies of Court Rolls of the Manor of Masham. 

Manor of Masham | To wit. — At the Court Leet or View of Frankpledge 
in the V of the worshipful Abstrupus Danby, Esquire, Lord of 

County of York. J the same manor, holden at the Toll Booth in Masham 
aforesaid, on Tuesday, to wit the 20th day of October, in the 1st year of the 
reign of the Lord James the 2nd, now King of England, &c, and in the 
year of onr Lord 1685, before Roger Bayne, gentleman-steward of the Court 
there. 

The names of the Jurors for the Court aforesaid called 
Forest Jury. 
Thomas Bowes Sworn. John Pickersgill Sworn. 

" all the rest of his lands." — He mentions his daughter Margaret Adamson and John Slater, alias 
Adamson, his grandchild, and desires " to be brought forth according to my calling." 

* A person of this name held this tenement in 1496. — See Ibid. p. 333. The Lodge family was 
a very numerous one in this Parish, one of them, " Richard Lodge of Masham, Butcher," made his 
■will dated 30th June, 1665. 

t John Lambhird held four waste tofts in Ilketon, of the Abbot of Fountains in 1361. See 
Walbran's Memorials of Fountains, p. 333. On the 1st April, 1619, Simon Lambert was pre- 
sented for teaching at Ilton, not known to be licensed. 

t Thomas de Pott held in Ilkton in 1360, a messuage, an oxgang of land, a waste toft, and 
half an acre of land, at the annual rent of 4s. 4cZ., and three boon days at Aldborough Grange. — 
Ibid., p. 333. 

§ In or before the time of King Edw. III., John Lowson held by charters under the Abbot of 
Fountains, a messuage and three acres of land in Swinton. And in 1361, Richard Lowson held in 
Swinton, a messuage, four oxgangs, and an acre and a half of land at the annual rent of 21*. 
5$d.—Ibid., p. 334. 

|| James Masterman of Ilton, husbandman, by his will dated 17th Feb., 1605, directs his body 
to be buried in Masham Churchyard. 






APPENDIX. 



515 



Christopher Dawson 
William Ogle 
Henry Adamson 
John Ripley- 
William Longstaffe 
George Beckwith 
Wilfrid Skafe 



Sworn. Peter Burrell Sworn. 

Sworn. Thomas Hanley Sworn. 

Sworn. Peter Hanley Sworn. 

Sworn. Richard Sturdy Sworn. 

Sworn. George Preston Sworn. 

Sworn. William Hodgeson Sworn. 

Sworn. George Burrell Sworn. 



Also the Jurors aforesaid at the Court aforesaid holden for the manor 
aforesaid, on the day and year abovesaid, in due manner impannelled, sworn, 
and charged to enquire of and present those things which at the Court afore- 
said were presentable upon their oath say and present. 

Also they present that John Pickersgiil of Ellingstring, in the County 
aforesaid, yeoman, on the loth day of October, in the year of our Lord 1685, 
had and placed one mare infected with the mange to pasture upon the moor or 
common of Ellingstring aforesaid, and which mare remained there by the 
space of four days and upwards the next following, against the form of the 
Statute. Therefore he hath forfeited to the lord of the manor 10s. 



No. 47. 

Manor of Masham j At the Court Leet or View of Frankpledge of the 

in the V worshipful Abstrupus Danby, Esquire, Lord of the same 

County of York, j manor> holden at the Toll Booth in Masham aforesaid, 

on day, to wit the 23rd day of April, in the second year of the reign 

of the Lord James the 2nd now King of England, &c, and in the year of 
our Lord 1686, before Roger Bayne, gentleman-steward of the Court there. 

The names of the Jurors of the Court aforesaid called Ellingtons' Jury. 

Robert Thompson 
Thomas Plewes 
Anthony Williamson 
Thomas Pratt 
Richard Smorthwaite 
Marmaduke Plewes 

Also the Jurors aforesaid, at the Court aforesaid, holden for the manor 
aforesaid, on the day and year abovesaid, in due manner impannelled, sworn, 
and charged to enquire of and present those things which at the Court afore- 
said, were presentable upon their oaths aforesaid say and present. 

Also they present that John Pickersgiil of Ellingstring in the County 
aforesaid, Yeoman, on the 20th day of April, in the year of our Lord, 1686, 
with force and arms, &c, broke into the common pound at Ellingtons afore- 
said, and then and there rescued and drove out certain cattle then being in 
the same pound. Therefore he is in mercy 5s. And which amerciament by 
the affeerers of the same Court was affeered at 2s. 4e#. 



Sworn. 


James Williamson 


Sworn. 


Sworn. 


William Powter 


Sworn. 


Sworn. 


George Thwaite 


Sworn. 


Sworn. 


Christopher Jackson 


Sworn. 


Sworn. 


John Thompson 


Sworn. 


Sworn. 


Christopher King 


Sworn. 



Affeerers of the ( Robert Thompson. 
Court aforesaid. [ Anthony Williamson. 



Sworn. 



516 



MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



No. 48. 

Manor of Masham ] To wit.— At the Court Leet or View of Frankpledge 
in the V f the worshipful Ahstrupus Danby, Esquire, Lord of 

County of York, j the same manor> holden at the Toll Booth in Masham 
aforesaid, for the manor aforesaid, on Saturday, to wit the fifth day of May> 
in the fourth year of the reign of James the second, now King of England, 
&c., and in the year of our Lord 1688, before Roger Bayne, gentleman-stew- 
ard of the Court there. 

The names of the Jurors for the Court aforesaid called Forest Jury. 



Thomas Bowes 


Sworn. 


Matthew Imeson 


Sworn. 


Richard Sturdy 


Sworn. 


Matthew King 


Sworn. 


Robert Leathley 


Sworn. 


Peter Barker 


Sworn 


Richard Mankin 


Sworn. 


John Burrell 


Sworn 


Thomas Ripley 


Sworn. 


Anthony Gibson 


Sworn 


"William Hodgson 


Sworn. 


William Pickersgill 


Sworn 


George Beck with 


Sworn. 


Vincent Cooper 


Sworn 


Anthony Watson 


Sworn. 


John Olliver 


Sworn 


Robert Preston 


Sworn. 







Also the Jurors aforesaid, at the Court aforesaid, holden for the manor 
aforesaid, on the day and year abovesaid, in due manner impannelled, sworn, 
and charged to enquire of and present those things which at the Court afore- 
said were presentable upon their oaths aforesaid, say and present. 

Also they present that John Pickersgill of Ellingstring, in the County 
aforesaid, Yeoman, on the fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord 1688, 
at Ellingstring within the manor aforesaid, and the precinct of the Court 
aforesaid, with force and arms, &c, made an affray and assault in and upon 
one Christopher Durham, and then and there drew blood from the same 
Christopher. Therefore he is in mercy 20s. And which amerciament by 
the affeerers of the same Court was affeered at 10s. 

Affeerers of the ( Thomas Bowes. ) o ' 
Courts aforesaid. [ Richard Murdy. j wor 



APPENDIX. 517 



APPENDIX. 



B. 



CHARTERS GRANTING FREE-WARREN, MARKETS, AND FAIRS IN MASHAM, 
AND FROCEEDINGS BY QUO WARRANTO RESPECTING SAME, AND THE 

FREE CHASES. 



No. 1. 

Charter granted by Henry III., to John de Wauton, dated 1st June, 35 Hen. 
III., A.D. 1250, of Free-warren, a Market, and a Fair in Masham. — 
Charter Rolls. — 35 Hen. III., m. 6. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

For John de Wauton. — The King to Archbishops, &c., greeting. Know 
ye that we have granted, and by this our charter confirmed to John de 
Wauton, that he and his heirs for ever, have Free-warren * in all his demesne 
lands of Masseham in the County of York, provided, nevertheless, that the 
same lands be not within the metes of our forest ; so that no one enter the 
same lands to hunt in the same, or to take anything which to warren apper- 
tains, without the licence and will of the same John, or his heirs, upon for- 
feiture to us of Ten Pounds. We have given to the same John, that he and 
his heirs for ever, have one market every week on Friday, at his same 
manor of Masseham ; and that he have in the same one fair f every year of 
three days duration — that is to say, on the eve, the day, and the morrow of 
the Assumption of the Blessed Mary. \ Unless the same market and fair 

* As to what a Free-warren is, see ante p. 48. 

f Spelman says, that Fairs are of Saxon origin, and that they were first instituted in England 
by King Alfred, A.D. 886. In early times the Monks celebrated the festival of their patron Saint 
on these days, and the vast resort of people to them, occasioned a great demand for goods, wares, 
&c. It will be observed that the Fair granted by this Charter (and which is the Fair now held on 
the 17th, 18th, and 19th days of September) is to be held on the festival of the patron Saint of 
Masham Church, viz : — of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

For the reasons mentioned above, and of the Fair being held on the Feast of the dedication of 
the Church, I think it very probable that a Fair had been held at Masham, and at this season, long 
previous to the date of this Charter, and that this Charter is merely in the nature of a confirmation 
of a previously existing right to hold the Fair by prescription. 

This Charter it will be observed grants no toll, and therefore no toll is demandable at it, as I 
have already shewn ante pages 51 and 52. 

X By the Statute 27 Henry VI., cap. 5 (passed A.D. 1448) Fairs were prohibited being held on 
the High Feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Lady, from which date no Fair coidd be held on 
that day. This Act (27 Hen. VI., cap. 5) however, was only repealed so lately as by the 13 and 14 
Vict., cap. 23, although it had long ceased to be observed. 

As I have already mentioned ante, this is the same Fair which is now holden on the 17th, 






518 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

be to the damage of the neighbouring markets and fairs. Wherefore we 
are willing, &c. — Witnesses, &c. Given by our hand at Merewell, the first 
day of June. 



No. 2. 

Charter granting to Jeoffrey le Scrop Free-warren in his lands, and a mar- 
ket and fairs at his manor of Masham, dated 1§th October, 2 Ewd. III., 
a<d. 1327.— Charter Rolls a. 2 E 3. n. 27. 

[translation.] 

For Geoffrey le Scrop. — The King in these words. Know ye that we of 
our special favour have granted and by this our Charter have confirmed to 
our beloved and faithful Geoffrey le Scrop, that he and his heirs, may pos- 
sess for ever a Free-warren * in all his demesne " lands of Masham, Bellerby, 
Gertheston, Hunton, Silton, Thirne, Aglethorpe, Upsale, Thornbergh, and 
Kylvngton, in the County of York, and Maskham in the County of Notting- 
ham, provided those lands be not within the metes of our forrest. Also that 
no one enter those lands to hunt in them, or take anything pertaining to the 
warren without the licence and consent of the said Geoffrey, or his heirs, 
upon forfeiture to us of £10. And that they have one market every week 
on Wednesday, at his manor of Masham in the said County of York, and two 
fairs there every year, which shall continue for 4 days, one to wit — on the 
eve and on the day of Saint Barnabas the Apostle, f and one other fair there 
on the eve and on the day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, J 
unless that market and those fairs shall be to the injury of the neighbouring 
markets and the neighbouring fairs. Wherefore it is our wish, and we firmly 
direct for ourselves and our heirs, that the aforesaid Geoffrey and his heirs 
may have for ever, a free-warren in all his demesne lands aforesaid ; provi- 
ded those lands be not within the metes of our forest. Also, that no one 
enter those lands to hunt in them, or take anything pertaining to the war- 
ren, without the license and consent of the said Geoffrey or his heirs, upon 
forfeiture to us of £10. And that they have the aforesaid market and fairs 

18th, and 19th days of September. The time of holding it has, however, been altered ; as the Fes- 
tival of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is held on the 15th day of August, and the 
Fairs being on the eve, the day, and the morrow, would require to be held on the 14th, 15th, and 
16th days of that month. Many instances could be adduced where the time of holding of Fairs has 
been altered, especially when the Fairs occurred during harvest-time, and thus interfered with the 
operations of the harvest. I apprehend that that has been one of the reasons why the alteration 
has been made in the time of the holding of this Fair. 

* As the Grant of Free-warren made to John de Wauton previously mentioned, only extended 
to the lands held by him at the date of such Grant ; and as Sir Geoffrey le Scrope had in the mean- 
time acquired other lands besides those he derived from the Wautons, it was necessary for him to 
obtain a fresh Grant of Free- warren so that it might extend to the newly acquired lands. 

t This Fair has long ceased to be holden. — See foot-note ante p. 50. 

t This is the same Fair as was granted to John de Wauton A.D. 1250, except that it is granted 
for two days, instead of three days, as in the former Grant. It is substantially, as to this Fair, a 
mere confirmation of the former Grant to John de Wauton ; and like it gives no toll. My observ- 
ations, therefore, ante, as regards the toll equally apply to this Charter. 



APPENDIX. 519 

at his manor aforesaid, with all liberties, and free customs pertaining to a 
market and to fairs of this kind, unless that market and those fairs, shall be 
to the injury of the neighbouring fairs as aforesaid. As witness these vener- 
able Fathers. — S. Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England, 
H. Bishop of Lincoln, our Chancellor, The Bishop of Hereford, our Treasurer, 
R. Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, Edmund Earl of Kent, our uncle, John 
de Waren Earl of Surrey, Henry de Percy, John de Wysham steward of our 
household, and others. 

Given under our hand at New Sarum on the 28th day of October. 
Under Writ of Privy Seal. 



No. 3. 

Charter granting to Sir Stephen le Scrope Free-ivarren in his lands, and a 
Market and two Fairs at his manor of Masseham, dated 1th May, 
16 Ric. II, a.d. 1392. 

[translation.] 

Richard by the grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of 
Ireland: to Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Dukes, Earls, Barons, 
Justices, Sheriffs, Reeves, Ministers, and all his Bailiffs, and faithful men greet- 
ing. Know ye that of our special grace, we have granted and given licence 
for us and our heirs, as much as in us lies to our beloved and faithful Stephen 
le Scrop, Knight, that he and his heirs for ever, have one market every week 
on Wednesday, at their manor of Masseham in the County of York, and two 
fairs there, to be holden for six days, that is to say — one fair to be holden 
for two days before the Feast of St. Barnabas, the Apostle, * and on St. Bar- 
nabas' day, and the other fair to be holden for two days before the Feast of 
the Nativity of the Blessed Mary, and on the day of the same Nativity ; f 
unless the same market and fairs be to the prejudice or damage of other 
neighbouring markets and fairs there : also, we have granted and given li- 
cence for us and our same heirs, as much as in us lies to the same Stephen, 
that he and his heirs for ever, have free-warren J in all their demesne lands 
in the Vills of Masseham, Bellerby, Gareheston, Hunton, Silton, Thirne, 
Aglethorpe, Upsale, Thornburgh, and Kilvington in the County of York, 
Muskham in the County of Nottingham, Fifhide, Willynghale, Doo and Wil- 

* This Fair lias long ceased to be holden.— See foot note ante p. 50. 

t This is the same Fair which was granted to Sir John de WautonA.D. 1250, and confirmed to 
Sir Geoffrey le Scrope A.D. 1327, except it will be seen that it is granted for three days, the same 
as in the first mentioned Charter, and the time of holding it is altered from the Assumption to 
the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — being twenty four days later. The days for the hold- 
ing of the Fair under this Charter, are the 6th, 7th, and 8th days of September, instead of the 13th, 
14th, and 15th days of August as in the previous Charter— with this difference it is substantially 
as to this Fair at least, a mere confirmation of the former grants to John de Wauton and Sir Geof- 
frey le Scrope, and like them it gives no Toll. My observations, therefore, ante, as regards the 
Toll apply equally to this Charter. 

% See my observations ante, as to the necessity for Sir Stephen le Scrope's applying for 
another Grant of Free-warren, by reason of his having in the meantime acquired additional estates 
to which the former Grant of Free- warren would not extend. 



520 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

lynghale, Spaigne, in the County of Essex, and Paulynscray, in the County 
of Kent. Provided, nevertheless, the same lands be not within the metes of 
our forest, so that no one enter the same lands, to hunt in the same 
or take anything which to warren appertains, without the licence and 
will of the same Stephen, or his heirs, upon forfeiture to us of Ten 
Pounds. Wherefore we will and firmly order, for us and our same heirs, that 
the aforesaid Stephen, and his heirs aforesaid, for ever, have one mar- 
ket every week on Wednesday, at their manor of Masseham, and two 
fairs there to be holden for six days every year, that is to say, — 
one fair to be holden for two days before the Feast of St. Barnabas the 
Apostle, and on St. Barnabas' day ; and the other fair to be holden for two 
days before the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary, and on the day 
of the same Nativity ; unless the aforesaid market and fairs be to the pre- 
judice or damage of other neighbouring markets and fairs there : and also, 
that the same Stephen and his heirs aforesaid, for ever, have free warren in 
all their demesne lands in the aforesaid vills of Masseham, Bellerby, Gare- 
heston, Hunton, Silton, Thirne, Aglethorpe, Upsale, Thornburgh, and Kil- 
vington in the County of York, Muskham in the County of Nottingham, 
Tifhide, Willynghale, Doo, and Willy nghale, Spaigne, in the County of Es- 
sex, and Paulynscray in the County of Kent ; provided the same lands be 
not within the metes of our forest ; so that no one enter the same lands to 
hunt in them, or take anything that to warren appertains, without the li- 
cence and will of the same Stephen, and his heirs aforesaid, upon forfeiture 
to us of Ten Pounds as is aforesaid. These being witnesses — the Venerable 
Fathers, William, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England, Thomas, 
Archbishop of York, Primate of England, our Chancellor, William, Bishop of 
Winchester, John, Bishop of Salisbury, our Treasurer, John, Duke of Aqui- 
taine and Lancaster, Edmund, Duke of York, Thomas, Duke of Gloucester, 
our dearest uncles, our dearest brother John de Holand, our Chamberlain, 
and William, Earl of Salisbury, Thomas de Percy, Steward of our household, 
and Edmund de Stafford, keeper of our Privy Seal, and others. 

Given under our hand at Westminster the Seventh day of May, in the 
Sixteenth year of our reign. 

By W r rit of Privy Seal. 

Gandeby. 



No. 4. 

Charter granted hy Charles I., to Thomas Dariby, Esq., dpied the 26th Nov. 
8 Charles I., a.d.. 1632, of Fortnight Fairs in Masham, as taken from 
the Patent Rolls 8 Charles I.,p 7, m 3. 

[t ranslation.] 

Charles, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, 

King, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom the present letters shall 

come greeting. Whereas our beloved and faithful subject Thomas Danby, 

Esq., hath most humbly prayed us that we, for the improvement of the town of 



APPENDIX. 521 

Massam otherwise Masseham in our County of York being the hereditament of 
the aforesaid Thomas as it is said, and for the common advantage and benefit of 
the inhabitants there, would deign to grant to the aforesaid Thomas Danby, 
and his heirs, one fair or feast on Wednesday in every second week, from the 
8th day of May, unto the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel— yearly— to 
be hoiden at their Town of Massam, otherwise Masseham aforesaid, for the 
buying and selling of all manner of cattle with the appurtenances, together 
with power and authority, that he and his heirs might have and receive such 
and such sort of reasonable tolls for corn and cattle, as well in the same fair 
as in other fairs * and markets hoiden and to be hoiden in the town afore- 
said, as and which are usually paid in others fairs and markets near adjoin- 
ing. And whereas w r e thereupon willing to be certified, if the said fair or 
feast, and tolls might be granted to the same Thomas Danby and his heirs, 
without loss or prejudice to us, or otherwise to any one whomsoever, by our 
writ of ad quod damnum lately issuing from our Chancery, directed to the 
Sheriff of our County of York aforesaid, did command the same Sheriff, that 
b}' the oath of good and lawful men of the County aforesaid, by whom the 
truth of the matter might be the better known, he should diligently enquire 
if it would be to the loss or prejudice of us or others, if we should grant to 
the aforesaid Thomas Danby and his heirs, that he and his heirs for ever 
should have and hold a fair for all manner of cattle with the appurtenances, 
on Wednesday in any second week from the 8th day of May, unto the Feast 
of St. Michael the Archangel — yearly — at their town of Masseham in the 
aforesaid County of York, and that the same Thomas and his heirs, for ever, 
might take and have in the same fair, and in other their fairs and markets, 
to be had and hoiden at their manor of Masseham aforesaid, by the same 
Thomas and his heirs, for corn and cattle to be sold in the same, such sort of 
and such tolls, as and which from time whereof the memory of man is not to 
the contrary, have been paid in the fairs and markets had and hoiden in the 
towns of Richmond, Middleham, Bedall, and North Allerton or either of 
them ; and that he should likewise enquire what sort of and what tolls had 
from the aforesaid time, whereof the memory of man is not to the contrary, 
been paid in the aforesaid towns of Richmond, Middleham, Bedall, and 
North Allerton, or either of them ; and if the fairs and markets had and 
hoiden in the aforesaid towns of Richmond, Middleham, Bedall, and North 
Allerton, were the nearest fairs and markets to Masseham aforesaid. And 
if it would be to the loss or prejudice of us or of others, if we should grant to 
the aforesaid Thomas Danby, that he and his heirs for ever, have, and hold 
the aforesaid fair for all manner of cattle at their town of Masseham afore- 

* It will be seen here that Thomas Danby prays that Tolls may be granted to him, not only 
for these Fortnight Fairs, but also for " other Fairs and Markets hoiden and to be hoiden in the 
town." It is, however, one thing to pray for a thing, and another thing to have such prayer 
granted ; and it will be seen hereafter, when we come to the Granting part of this Charter, and 
especially the clause granting the Tolls, that this Charter only grants to him Tolls for these Fort- 
night Fairs, and makes no mention whatever of the other Fairs and Markets. Had, indeed, the 
clause granting the Tolls even gone so far as to grant Tolls for the other Fairs, it would have been 
Bimpiy inoperative for the reasons mentioned ante page 51 and 52. See also note post. 

MM 



522 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

said, and that the same Thomas Danby and his heirs for ever, should take 
and have the tolls aforesaid, in their aforesaid other fairs and markets, at their 
aforesaid manor of Masseham aforesaid, to be had and holden by the same 
Thomas and his heirs, for corn and cattle to be sold in the same, then unto what 
loss and what prejudice of us, or of others, and of whom, and how, and in what 
manner ; and an Inquisition thereupon, distinctly and openly made, he should 
without delay, send to us in our Chancery under his seal, and the seals of those 
by whom it should be made, and the same wait ; and whereas by a certain In- 
quisition indented, taken at Thirske in the County aforesaid, the 11th day of 
April, in the 8th year of our reign, before Sir Thomas Laton, Knight, Sheriff 
of the County aforesaid, by virtue of our said writ to the same Sheriff directed, 
by the oath of good and lawful men of the County aforesaid, it was found that it 
would not be to the loss or prejudice of us, or of others, if we should grant to 
the aforesaid Thomas Danby and his heirs, that he and his heirs have, and 
hold a fair for all manner of cattle with the appurtenances, on Wednesday, in 
every second week from the 8th day of May, unto the Feast of St. Michael the 
Archangel — yearly — at their town of Masham in the aforesaid County of York; 
and that the same Thomas Danby and his heirs, for ever take and have in the 
same fair, and in other their fairs and markets to be had and holden at their 
manor of Massam aforesaid, by the same Thomas Danby and his heirs, for 
corn and cattle to be sold in the same, such sort of, and such tolls as and 
which from time whereof the memory of man is not to the contrary, have 
been paid in the fairs and markets had and holden in the towns of Richmond, 
Middleham, Bedale, and North Allerton, or either of them ; and whereas by 
the aforesaid Inquisition, it was further found in the fairs and markets had, 
and holden in the town of Richmond aforesaid, from time whereof the mem- 
ory of man is not to the contrary, there had been paid such sort of, and such 
tolls — that is to say, — for every bull, cow, ox, steer, or heifer, sold in any 
fair or market of the same, one penny ; for every horse, mare, or gelding, 
sold in the same, one penny; for every horse, colt, there sold, one penny; 
and for every 5 sheep there sold, one penny : and for every 5 lambs there 
sold, one penny ; and for every hog there sold, two pence ; and for exery 
pig, sow, or other pig there sold, two pence ; to be paid equally between the 
seller and the buyer : and for every bushel of corn there sold, half a pint ; and 
for every horse load of corn there sold, and carried out of the market afore- 
said, half a penny : and that the aforesaid fair and market had and holden 
in the aforesaid town of Richmond, and the fairs and markets of Middleham, 
Bedall, and North Allerton, in the writ aforesaid likewise specified, are the 
nearest fairs and markets to the aforesaid fair, and market of Massam afore- 
said, as by the writ and Inquisition aforesaid, returned by the Sheriff afore- 
said into our Chancery, and there remaining of Record, is more fully mani- 
fest and appears. Know ye, therefore, that we graciously consenting to the 
petition of our aforesaid subject, Thomas Danby, of our special grace, and of 
our certain knowledge and mere motion, have given and granted and by these 
presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do give, and grant to the aioresaid 
Thomas Danby, his heirs and assigns, that he, the aforesaid Thomas Danby, 






APPENDIX. 523 

his heirs and assigns, henceforth for ever, have, hold, and keep within th« 
town of Massam, otherwise Masseham aforesaid, the liberty or precinct of the 
same — yearly and every year for ever — one fair or feast, for all manner of cat- 
tle, with the appurtenances, on Wednesday, in every second week, from the 8th 
day of May, unto the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, yearly, to continue 
and last for all those days, together with a Court of piepoudre, there to be hol- 
den at the time of the said fair over and beside the other fairsand markets of 
the same Thomas Danby, lawfully had and holden, or to be had and holden, 
within his town of Masham, otherwise Masseham aforesaid, before the making 
of these our letters patent : and, moreover, if our more abundant special grace, 
and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, for us our heirs, and successors, 
we do grant to the aforesaid Thomas Danby, his heirs and assigns, that 
he, his heirs and assigns, for ever, have and take, for the corn and 
cattle to be sold in the same fairs, feasts, and markets in the same 
town of Masham, otherwise Masseham, such sort of and such tolls * as, 
and which have been paid in the fairs and markets of Richmond aforesaid, 
had and holden from time whereof the memory of man is not to the con- 
trary, that is to say, — for every bull, cow, ox, steer or heifer, sold in any of 
the same fairs or markets of Massam, otherwise Masseham aforesaid — one 
penny ; for every horse, mare, or gelding, sold in the same, one penny ; for 
every horse, colt, sold there, one penny ; and for every 5 sheep sold there, 
one penny; and for every five lambs there sold, one penny; and for 
every hog there sold, two pence ; and for every pig, sow, or other pig 
there sold, two pence ; payable equally between the seller and the 
buyer ; and for every bushell of corn there sold, half-a-pint ; and for every 
horse-load of corn there sold and carried out of the market aforesaid 
half-a-penny : f and with all liberties, free customs, tolls, stallage, piccage, 
fines, amerciaments, and all other profits, commodities, advantages, and 
emoluments whatsoever, to the aforesaid markets, fairs, or feasts and Court 
of piepoudre appertaining, belonging, arising, happening, or contingent : 
wherefore, we will, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, 

* This is the granting clause of this Charter, and it will be seen that it only grants Tolls " for 
the corn and cattle to be sold in the same Fairs, Feasts, and Markets in the same town of Massam, " 
now these words same Fairs, &c, mean the Fortnight Fairs only, for they are the only Fail's which 
have been mentioned before — that is — in the clause immediately preceding it which grants these 
Fairs ; or in other words the Fortnight Fairs being the last antecedent, they are the Fairs referred 
to as the same Fairs. Had, however, the Grant of Tolls even extended to the other Fairs, it would 
have been inoperative as stated ante pages 51 and 52. 

t Even supposing that these Tolls are now payable at the September Fairs (which I dispute 
for the reason mentioned ante pages 51 and 52) these are not the Tolls which are now demanded 
and received by the Lessee of the Tolls at these Fairs. The Lessee now charges just double the 
amount of the Tolls here specified, viz : — two pence for every bull, cow, ox, steer or heifer ; 
and for every five sheep, or lambs, two pence, or eight pence per score. This Charter, therefore, 
cannot be the Charter under which the present scale of Tolls is now demanded, and if this is not 
the Charter, then let me ask under what other Charter can such a demand be justified ? For none 
of the other Charters grant any such scale of Tolls, or indeed any tolls whatever, and we have al- 
ready seen that if no Tolls are granted by the Charter which grants the Fairs or Market, no Tolla 
are demandable, but that the Fair or Market so granted, is a free Fair and a free Market. Thia 
if unquestionably the case as to the Fairs and Markets held at Masham. 



524 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

firmly order and command, that the aforesaid Thomas Dauby, his heirs and 
assigns, henceforth and for ever, have, hold, and keep, and may, and shall be 
able to have, hold, and keep within the town of Massam, otherwise Masseham 
aforesaid, the liberty or precinct of the same, yearly and every year, for ever, 
the aforesaid fair or feast, for all manner of cattle with the appurtenances, 
on "Wednesday in every second week, from the 8th day of May, until the 
feast of St. Michael the Archangel yearly, to last for all those days together 
with a Court of piepoudre there to be holden at the time of the said fair, over 
and beside other fairs and markets heretofore, as is aforesaid lawfully had 
and holden within the town of Massam, otherwise Masseham aforesaid, and 
with all the liberties, free customs, tolls, stallage, * piccage, f fines amerci- 
aments, and all other profits, commodities, advantages, and emoluments 
whatsoever, appertaining, belonging, arising, happening, or contingent, as 
as well to the fair and Co art of piepoudre, by these presents before granted 
as to the aforesaid other fairs and markets and every or either of them ; and 
this without any rent, account, or any other thing, therefore to us our heirs or 
successors, to be rendered, paid, or done ; and also without any molestation, 
disturbance, grievance, or contradiction of us, or any of the officers or 
ministers whomsoever, of us our heirs or successors : so nevertheless, that the 
aforesaid fair be not to the nuisance of other neighbouring fairs whatsoever; 
also, we will and by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors, do 
grant to the aforesaid Thomas Danby, his heirs and assigns, that this our 
present Charter on the enrolment of the same, be in all things r and by all 
things, firm, valid, sufficient and effectual in the law, and shall be un- 
derstood, adjudged, and determined in all our Courts, as well and favourably 
as it can be known and understood on the behalf of the aforesaid Thomas 
Danby, his heirs and assigns, towards and against us, our heirs and success- 
ors, notwithstanding the not reciting, or mis-reeiting of our aforesaid writ 
ad quod damnum, and the Inquisition thereupon taken, or any defect, or de- 
fects in the execution or return of the said writ and Inquisition, or either of 
them : also, we will, and by these presents grant to the aforesaid Thomas 
Danby, that he may have, and shall have these our letters patent in due 
manner, made and sealed under our great seal of England, without fine or 
fee, great or small, to us in our Hanaper or elsewhere, to our use, therefore 
in anywise howsoever to be rendered, paid, or done, altho' express mention 
be not made in these presents, of the true yearly value or certainty of the 
premises or either of them, or of other gifts or grants heretofore made by us,. 
or by either of our progenitors or predecessors, to the aforesaid Thomas 
Danby, Esq., or any Statute Act, ordinance, provision, proclamation, or res- 
triction to the contrary thereof, heretofore had, made, passed, ordained, or 
provided, or any other thing, cause, or matter whatsoever, in anywise not- 
withstanding. In testimony whereof, we have caused these our letters to be 

* Stallage is the liberty or right of pitching or erecting Stalls in Fairs or Markets,^ or the 
money paid for the same. — Kennefs Gloss. 

t Piccage is a consideration paid for the breaking up of ground to set up booths, stalls or 
standings in Fairs ; payable to the Lord of the soil. See Jacob's Law Diet., Art. Piccage. 



APPENDIX. 525 

made patent.' — Witness, ourself at Westminster, the 26th day of November, 
in the 8th year of our reign. 

By Writ of Privy Seal. Wolesley. 



No. 5. 

Pleas of Juries and Assizes and of Quo Warranto, before John de Vale, and 
his Companions, Justices Itinerant in the County of York, in the *lth, 
&th, and 9th years of the reign of King Edward, on John de Wanton 
being summoned to shew by what warrant or authority he claimed to have 
warren at Masseham, Elington, Eling string, Helagh, Fereby, and Sutton, 
$c. * Bated 8 Edw. I., a.d. 1280. 

[translation.] 

And John cometh and saith that Elingstring, Elington, Helagh, Fereby, 
and Sutton, are hamlets and members of Masseham; and that the Lord 
King Henry, father of the Lord now King, granted him free warren in all 
his demesne lands in his manor, by a Charter of which he makes profert. 
And Alan de Walkingham who sueth for the King, saith that in the afore- 
said hamlets there are certain free tenants, in whose lands the aforesaid John 
hath warren as in his own demesne lands, and he prayeth that this be en- 
quired of ; and John doth the like. Afterwards it was found by William de 
Holteby and his companions, jurors, that the aforesaid John hath used his 
warren in Masham, but they say that he of his own act hath appropriated 
the lands of the Abbot of Fountains, Reginald de Clifton, John de Rycher, 
Simon de Sutton, and certain others unto the same use ; therefore he is in 
mercy, and he hath judgment as to warren, &c, f — Roll 1 dorse. 



No. 6. 

Judgment Roll in the case of the Attorney General v. Sir Christopher Dariby f 
Knt., being proceedings in Quo Warranto, to try the right to the Chase 
or Forest and Free-warren in Mashamshire. Date 5 Edw. VI., 
A.D. 1551. 

[translation.] 

Among the Records deposited in the Public Record Office, London, to 
wit — King's Bench — Judgment Roll — Michaelmas Term 5th, Edw. 6th, it 
is thus contained : — Pleas before the Lord the King at Westminster, in the 
term of St. Michael, in the 5th year of the reign of Edward the 6th, by the 

* A Writ of Quo Warranto, is a writ which, lies against any person that usurps any franchise 
or liberty against the King, without good title ; and is brought against the usurpers to shew by 
what right and title they hold or claim such franchise or liberty. 

t The purport of this decision is, that John de Wauton was entitled to Free-warren in his de- 
mesne lands, but that he had encroached upon the lands of the Abbot of Fountains, Reginald de 
Clifton, John de Rycher, Simon de Sutton, and certain others, which were not of his demesne lands, 
and therefore judgment was given against him as to those lands, and in his favour as to his right 
to the Free-warren. 



526 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

grace of God, of England, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, 
and on earth of the Church of England and Ireland, Supreme Head. 

Witness — It. Lyster. 

Mynne — Roll 1st. — Pory. 

York to Wit.— Roll 8. As yet of the term of St. Michael (King's [Roll]).— 
Be it remembered, that Henry Bradshaw, Esq., Attorney General of the 
Lord the King, who now sues for the same Lord the King proffered here in 
Court, a certain information against Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, which 
follows in these words : — York to wit. — Be it remembered that on Tuesday 
next after the quinzime of St. Michael, in the 3rd year of the reign of Ed- 
indictment ) ward 6th, by the grace of God of England, France, and Ireland, 

Michaelmas • 

3rd. Edw. 6th j King, Defender of the Faith, and on earth of the Church of 
England and Ireland, Supreme Head, before the Lord the King at West- 
minster, comes Henry Bradshaw, Esq., Attorney General of the Lord the 
King, who now sues for the same Lord the King in his own person, and 
gives the Court of the said Lord the King here to understand, and be in- 
formed that Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, by the space of half-a-year now 
last past, and more hath used and still useth, to have one chace or forest, 
with wild animals, and free-warren at Mashamshire, in the County of York, 
to the derogation thereupon of the said Lord the now King, and the great 
prejudice and contempt of the same Lord the King ; whereupon the same attor- 
ney of the said Lord the King, for the same Lord the King prayeth advice of 
the Court in the premises, and that the aforesaid Sir Christopher Danby, Knt., 
be warned to answer the said Lord the King, by what warrant he claims to 

have the chace, forest, and free warren aforesaid, &c, whereby the 

Sheriff is ordered that he omit not, &c, that he cause him to come and 

answer, &c, and now to wit, on Friday next after the quinzime of St. 

Michael in this same term before the Lord the King at Westminster, comes 
the aforesaid Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, by James Wolriche, his attor- 
ney, and hath audience of the premises ; and as touching free-warren * at 
Mashamshire aforesaid, the same Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, saith that 
the Lord Richard the 2nd, late King of England, progenitor of the said 
Lord the now King, by his letters patent of which the same Christopher 
Danby here makes proffert in Court — the date whereof is at Westminster, 
the 7th day of May in the 16th year of his reign ; amongst other things — 
granted and gave license, as far as in the same late Lord the King was to 
his beloved and faithful Sir Stephen le Scrop, Knight, by the name of 
Stephen le Scrop, chevalier, an ancestor of the said Christopher Danby, 
whose heir he is — that is to say, the son of Margery, the daughter of John, 
the son of John, the son of the said Stephen, that the same Stephen, and his 
heirs for ever, should amongst other things have free-warren in all the 
demesne lands of the same Stephen, in the Vills of Masham, Bellerby, Gar- 
reston, Hunton, Sylton, Thirne, Aglethorpe, Upsall, Thornbargh, and Kyl- 

* It will be seen here that Sir Christopher Danby justifies his right to the Free-warren only 
under the Charter of King Richard II., to Sir Stephen le Scrope, and not that of the Chase which 
he afterwards justifies by another plea claiming it by prescription. 









APPENDIX. 527 

lington, in the said County of York, Muskam, in the County of Nottingham, 
Fyfhed, Wyllynghall, Doo, and Wyllyingoall, Spaigne, in the County of 
Essex, and Pawlyngscray, in the County of Kent. Provided, nevertheless, 
the same lands were not within the metes of the forest of the said late Lord 
the King, so that none should enter the same lands to hunt in them, nor 
take anything which to warren appertains, without the licence and will of 
the same Stephen, or his heirs, under pain of forfeiting to the said Lord the 
King £10, as by the aforesaid letters patent more fully appears ; and further 
the same Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, saith that the aforesaid townships 
of Mashamshire, in the said information specified, and the township of Mas- 
ham, in the aforesaid letters patent [named], are one and the same vill and 
not others, nor different ; and that the aforesaid township is known and from 
time whereof the memory of man is not to the contrary, was known as well 
by the name of Massamshire as by the name of Massam ; and by that war- 
rant the same Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, claims the free warren afore- 
said, and hath used and still useth, to have the free- warren aforesaid, of and in 
his demesne lands, which the demesne lands of the said Stephen, in the 
aforesaid townships of Massamshire, in the aforesaid information specified as 
was lawful to him, that is to say, in 3000 acres of land, 4000 acres of pasture, 
2000 acres of meadow, 2000 acres of wood, 12000 acres of furze and heath in 
the aforesaid Vills ; in the aforesaid information specified, which at the time 
of the aforesaid grant, were the demesne lands of the said Stephen le Scrop, 
of Massam and Massamshire, which after the death of the aforesaid Stephen 
le Scrop (as is aforesaid) descended to the aforesaid Christopher Danby, as 
cousin and heir of the same Stephen, that is to say, the son of Margery, the 
daughter of John, the son of John, the son and heir of the said Stephen, by 
virtue whereof the same Christopher was seized of the premises in his de- 
mesne as of fee ; and the same Christopher Danby saith that the aforesaid 
demesne lands at the time of the grant aforesaid were not within the metes 
of any forest of the same late King Richard the 2nd, which, &c. And 
moreover, the same Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, saith that he and his 
ancestors, whose heir he is, from time whereof the memory of man is not to 
the contrary have used, and the same Christopher still useth, to have and 
enjoy to him, and his heirs one chace * with stags, deer, and other wild ani- 
mals of the woods in and at Mashamshire aforesaid, in the County aforesaid, 
called Massam forest, in 6000 acres of land, 4000 acres of pasture, 3000 acres 
of meadow, 4000 acres of wood, 12000 acres of furze and heath in Massam- 
shire aforesaid, with all things which to chase appertain, by the boundaries 
underwritten, to wit — from Yore (so named) into Synderhowe, so that Nute- 
wid may remain in common between the townships of Malsert (now [known] 
by the name of Kirkby Malserd) and Masham, and from Synderhowe, unto 
the hill which is nearest to the south of Roger Cross, now called New Cross, 
as the water descends thence towards Massam, and so unto the hill above 
Pilesden, and then from thence by the Edge of the hill unto Froseldeshow, 

* It will be seen that it is only claimed as a Chace, and not as a Forest.— See observations 
thereon ante p. 47. 



528 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

(now called by the name of Throstylhow), and from Frostildeshow by the 
edge of the hill unto the boundaries of Robert Fitz Ralph (now called Cov- 
erdale) and thence unto the boundaries of AVitton ; and these are the metes 
of the boundaries of Witton and Massamshire, to wit — where Esewathe is on 
the west of "Whitebethe, [Whitebeck] as it floweth into Yore, and from 
Eswathe unto Kylgrynihs (now called Kylgrymhowe Grange), and thence 
unto Delather (now called Charekeld), and from Delather unto Blapott (now 
called Claypit), and thence unto Selykeld (now called the well in Newsted 
pasture) and thence unto Holgill (now called Lambertgill) on the west side 
as Matheresgaytt (now called Marketgait), ascends between the two Holli- 
gilles (now called Lambertgill and Leygill), and thence unto Kempestaines 
(now called Castle Hills), and afterwards as the waters collect together 
some whereof tend to the North towards Witton, and some to the South 
towards Massamshire, and as the waters divide on the North-side from Cader- 
land (now called Caldburghe), and from Burnelneshage (now called Eller- 
shall), unto the boundaries of Coverdale, and unto Nedeshawe (now called 
Myers) unto the boundaries of Ralph Fitz Ribald (now called Middleham), 
and by this warrant the same Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, hath used and 
still useth a chase there, in the aforesaid 6000 acres of land, 4000 acres of 
pasture, 3000 acres of meadow, 4000 acres of wood, 12000 acres of furze and 
heath, with stags, deer, and other wild animals, and all things which to chace 
appertain, as it was lawful to him; all and singular which things the same 
Christopher is ready to verify, as the Court, &c. "Whereupon, he conceiveth 
not that the Lord the now King will further impeach or hinder the same 
Christopher Danb} T , by occasion of the matters aforesaid or any of them, &c. 
And he prays judgement ; and that the same free-warren and chace aforesaid 
may be allowed and adjudged to him, &c. And that he concerning the pre- 
mises be dismissed this Court, &c. Whereupon, the plea of the aforesaid 
Christopher above pleaded in form aforesaid, and by Henry Bradshaw, Esq., 
Attorney-General of the said Lord the King, who sues for the same Lord the 
King in this behalf understood, and by the same Henry diligently examined 
with the aforesaid letters patent made and granted as is aforesaid, to the 
aforesaid Stephen Scrop and his heirs, in form aforesaid, and to the Court 
here shown ; and, moreover, because, that [by] certain Court Rolls of the 
said Christopher and his ancestors holden within the manors aforesaid to the 
Court of the Lord the King here shewn, and also by the relation of divers 
trustworthy witnesses in the same Court here present, it manifestly appear- 
eth, that certain of the ancestors of the aforesaid Christopher and now the 
same Christopher, by reason of the prescription * aforesaid, and also by vir- 
tue and force of the grant to the aforesaid Stephen and his heirs, have used 
and enjoyed all and singular the liberties in the aforesaid forest or chase in 
Massamshire aforesaid. Therefore, the same Henry Bradshaw for the said 
Lord the King, confesseth the plea of the aforesaid Christopher pleaded in 

* Thus it will be seen that whilst Sir Christopher Danby succeeding in establishing his claim 
to Free-warren by f orce of the Grant thereof made to Sir Stephen le Scrope by King Richard II. , he 
established his right to the Free Chase or Forest by a much higher title, viz : — by prescription. 






APPENDIX. 529 

form aforesaid, to be true, whereupon all and singular the premises being seen 
and by the Court here understood, the Serjeants-at-law of the Lord the King, 
and the Attorney of the same King being hereunto convoked and present, 
it is considered that the aforesaid Christopher Danby may enjoy and use the 
aforesaid forest or chase aforesaid, with all the liberties and free customs 
aforesaid, &c. And that all and singular the letters patent aforesaid, toge- 
ther with the liberties aforesaid, be allowed to the aforesaid Christopher 
Danby and his heirs in his behalf, &c. And that the same Christopher con- 
cerning the premises go thereof without day, &c. — Saving always the right 
of the King, if any, &c. 



NN 



530 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



APPENDIX. 



c. 



DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE CHURCH OF MASHAM. 



No. 1. 

Grant from Roger de Mowbray to the Canons of Newburgh of the Church of 
3fasham, as copied from the Harleian MSS., 793, in the British Museum. 
[Date between A.D. 1147, and A.D. 1153.] 

[translation]. 

To the Reverend Father and Lord Henry, by the grace of God, Arch- 
bishop of York, Roger de Mowbray greeting. I give y'r discretion to un- 
derstand that I, for the health of my soule, all my ancestors and heirs have 
given, and by this charter confirmed, to God and to the Church of Saint 
Mary of Newburg, newly founded in my fee, and the Canons there living 
regularly, for ever, in free, &c, whatsoever right I had in the Churches of 
Massam, and Malseard [Kirkby Malzeard], and Landeford; and whatever a 
layman can, in Churches conferre, to any religious college, that I have con- 
ferred the same upon them for ever, in the same Churches — and because your 
great care, who earnestly endeavour to plant sacred religion, and to cherish 
it when planted, is known to all men, therefore I humbly pray y'r clemency, 
that for the love of God ye would lend your assent to this my gift, and by 
the authority of your writeing confirme for ever, the mentioned Churches to 
the Canons aforesaid. 

Please y'r benignity to take notice that I made this gift to them with the 
will, and at the request of Sampson de Albinij, my kinsman, who holds the 
foresayd Churches. — These being witnesses, Robert Chaplayne, &c. 



No. 2. 

Extract from a Deed between Sampson de Albini, and the Prior of New- 
burgh, preserved at St. Mary's, York, and set out in Dugdale's Monas- 
ticon (new edition), Vol. iii., part 1, page 319. 

[translation]. 

Sampson de Albini after releasing to the Abbey all his interest in the 
Church of Masham, and other Churches, stipulates as follows : — " that he 
[Sampson de Albini] shall hold the Church of Malseart [Kirkby Malzeard] 



APPENDIX. 531 

of the Prior, and Richard of him, as, &c. ; and after the decease, or change of 
life of Richard, his brother Uchtred shall hold it in like manner, and Rich- 
ard shall have the boy Roger in his keeping, with the Church of Massam ; 
and out of the same Church shall provide the boy with necessaries by the 
counsel and consideration of the Prior." 



No. 3. 

Deed of Roger de Mowbray touching the Church of Masham made prebendal. 
[Date between A.D. 1154, and A.D. 1181.] 

[translation]. 

Roger de Molbrai to all the sons of Holy Mother Church, to whom these 
letters shall come, Greeting and love. Be it known unto you all, that I have 
granted as a Prebend so far as appertains to a layman, and that Roger the 
Archbishop, hath granted and confirmed to the Church of the Blessed Peter 
of York, the Church of Masham, and the Church of Kirkebi Malsard, and the 
Church of Halsay, and the Church of Hanston, and the Church of Landeford, 
and the Church of Hesmit, with all their appurtenances, in perpetual alms, 
free and quit from all demand and custom. — Witness, Roger the Archbishop, 
and the Chapter of York, and Ralph Beler, and Oliver de Buci, and Roger 
de Flamanville, and Walter de Charlton. 



No. 4. 

Another Deed of the same Roger de Mowbray, touching the Church of 
Masham. \_Date between A.D. 1154, and A.D. 1181.] 

[translation]. 

Roger de Molbrai, to Roger Archbishop of York, and Robert the Dean, 
and Chapter of York, and all his men, French and English, greeting, 
Know ye, that I have given and granted to God, and St. Peter of York, and 
Roger, the Archbishop, and his successors for ever, for the souls of my 
father and my mother and my ancestors, and the salvation of me and my sons, 
the Church of Masham, and the Church of Malseart [Kirkby Malzeard] and 
the Church of Landeford, in pure and perpetual alms, so that they may be 
from henceforth a Prebend in the Church of St. Peter, York — my sons Nigel, 
my heir, and Robert [thereto] covenanting. These being witnesses — Ralph 
de Belveer, Robert de Buci, Thomas de Colville, Richard de Wideville, Roger 
de Ardan, Sampson Cornwall, Robert, the Chaplain, John, the Archdeacon, 
Master Mamard, Alan, Canons of York. 



No. 5. 
Deed of Walter Buheret, touching the same Church of Masham. 

[translation]. 
Know all men who shall see or hear these letters, that I, Walter Buheret, 



532 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

have given and granted, and with my own hand offered, Masham with all 
things which to the same appertain, in pare and perpetual alms, to hold to 
God, and the Blessed Peter, and the Canons there serving God, to Roger [to 
wit] de Albeni, who now holdeth the same as a Prebend, and his successors; 
and this, by my present deed, I affirm myself to have made before Robert 
the Dean, and the Chapter of York, and many others ; Thurstin Fitz Malgre, 
Robert Beler, Everlard de St. Anian, Robert de Bellum, and others — clerks 
and laymen.* 



No. 6. 

Deed of the Archbishop of York, touching the Prebendal Church of Masham. 
[Bated between A.D. 1191, and a.d. 1193.] 

[translation]. 

Geoffrey, by the grace of God, Archbishop of York and Primate of Eng- 
land, to all who shall see or hear this deed, greeting. Be it known unto 
you all, that we, in our Chapter of York, with the common assent and coun- 
sel of our brethren, have freed and exempted the Churches of the Prebend of 
Roger de Albini, to wit — the Church of Massham, and the Church of Kirkeby 
Malezeard, and the Church of Landeford, from all the customs and claims of 
our Archdeacons and officials ; wherefore, I will and grant, and by this my 
present deed confirm, that the same churches be as free for ever as other the 
churches of any Prebends in the Church of York, and that the same Prebend 
composed of the same churches, be henceforth as free and quit as any the 
freest Prebend in the Church of York. These being witnesses — H. the Pre- 
centor, Master Simon de Apulia, Ralph, Archdeacon of York, Geoffrey, 
Archdeacon of Cleveland, William, Archdeacon of Nottingham, William, 
Archdeacon of Richmond, Robert Reeve, of Beverley, Stephen [and] Hugh 
Murdac, William de Bayeux, Adam de Thornore, Richard Gernegen, Reginald 
Arundel, William de Malmarsh, William de Steind, Canons of York; Mas- 
ter William de St. Quintin, Ralph de Hampton, Philip, John, and William 
de Cane, Canons of the Chapel, Henry, clerk of Collum. 



No. 7. 

Consent of the Archdeacon of Richmond, touching the same. [Date between 
a.d. 1189, and A.D. 1193.] 

[translation]. 

To all the sons of Holy Mother Church who shall see or hear these letters, 
William de Sunelli, Archdeacon of Richmond, greeting. Be it known un- 

* This Grant of Walter de Buhere, was merely a confirmation of a prior grant made by his 
predecessor in the estate (Roger de Mowbray) to the Church at York. 



APPENDIX. 533 

to you all, that I, of my mere will, have absolved and for the advantage and 
honor of our Church of York, by the common counsel and authority of the 
whole Chapter of York, have exempted from all service and claim appertain- 
ing to the Archdeaconry of Richmond, those churches that appertain to the 
Prebend of Masham, which are within the Archdeaconry of Richmond, of the 
endowment of Roger de Mowbray, that is to say, the Churches of Masham 
and Kirkeby [Kirkby Malseard], with all their appurtenances ; wherefore, 
I will, and by my present deed unalterably confirm, that the aforesaid 
churches thus remain free and quit from me and my successors, for ever, as 
well from household [visitations] as from Capitular [charges] and aids, and 
synodals, and all other claims, as any the freest Prebend in the Church of 
St. Peter, of York. These being witnesss — Henry, the Dean, Ralph, the 
Archdeacon, Master Simon, the Chancellor, Geoffrey, Archdeacon of Cleve- 
land, Robert Reeve, of Beverley, Stephen [and] Hugh Murdac, Adam de 
Tornoure, Nicholas, son of Hugh, Reginald Arundel, John Norwick, Peter 
de Dinant, William de Malmarsh, Thomas Fitz Paulin, Canons of York, Mas- 
ter Miles de Beverley, Peter de Ros, William Fitz Aldan, Alexander the 
Succenter, Alan de St. Wilfrid, William de Budthum, Arundel the Priest, 
John Fitz Geoffrey, and many others. 



No. 8. 
Ordination of the Vicarage of Masham. \_Dated 5th Ajyril, 1278.] 

[translation]. 

To all the faithful in Christ who shall see or hear this writing [William 
de Langton] the Dean and the Chapter of the Blessed Peter of York, greet- 
ing in the Lord everlasting. Know ye, that we by the will and assent of 
Sir Bogo de Clare, Canon of the same Prebend, and our colleague, do and 
have rated the Vicarage in the Churches of Masham, and of Kirkeby Mala- 
sard in the prebend of Masham, and other chapels adjoining, in this form, 
that is to say, that the Vicar of the aforesaid Churches, and his successors for 
ever, have the whole altarage of the aforesaid churches, the wool and lambs 
of both parishes altogether excepted ; and except the tithe hay of the parish 
of Masham only, but the hay of the parish of Kirkeby shall remain to the 
said Vicar ; and except mortuaries of live beasts of both parishes, which to- 
gether with all tithes of sheaves of both parishes, and with the land where- 
from the aforesaid churches are endowed, and with the capital messuage of 
Massam, shall remain for ever to the aforesaid Canon and his successors. 
Nevertheless, the Vicar and his successors, shall have that close of Kirkby 
Malsard, wherein the priests have been accustomed to dwell, and all the re- 
mainder of the alterage and profits of the churches aforesaid, the Vicar shall 
have in the name of his Vicarage, with the tithe money, oblations, obventions, 
and all other tithes in anywise, howsoever, accruing to the said Vicarage, 
and he shall make personal residence in the same Vicarage, and per- 






534 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

sonally serve the Vicarage, and have with him in the same, three priests 
at his own cost, and the aforesaid Vicar shall support all the charges 
which devolve upon the Vicarage. So, nevertheless, that the Canon for this 
turn shall supply the deficiency of the aforesaid churches in sufficient books, 
and ornaments ; and to the same Canon and his successors, shall for ever per- 
tain, the roofing of the chancel. Also, we reserve to ourselves power of in- 
creasing or diminishing the said Vicarage so often as it may seem to us ex- 
pedient. In testimony whereof, we have caused our common seal to be af- 
fixed to the present writing. Given in our Chapter of York, the Nones [5th] 
of April, in the year of our Lord 1278. 



No. 9. 

Pope Nicholas' Taxation, taken 19 Edw. L, A.D. 1291. 
The Prebend of Masham is rated as worth £166 13s. 4.d. 



No. 10. 

Extract from the Nonce Rolls (being an assessment of the ninth Sheaf, 
Fleece, and Lamb, to be levied on all Lands whether belonging to the mo- 
nastic and religious bodies, or laymen in every Parish.) Taken 15 Edw. 
III., A.D. 1340. 

[translation]. 

Masham, 250 marks [£166 13s. 4c?.] The same [assessors] answer of £60 
for the ninth of the same Parish committed to John Bucktroute, Thomas 
Forrester, Robert del Bergh, John Frankys, Edward de Stanley, and Wil- 
liam de Ilketon ; whereof 60s. is for the portion of the Abbey of Fountains, 
there for the temporalities, &c. And so less than the tax [of the Church in 
the taxation of Pope Nicholas] because 30 carucates of land lie uncultivated, 
which, if they were cultivated, the ninth would not be worth £20, and 
where the Rector was accustomed to receive three sacks of wool worth £15, 
he doth not receive one sack worth £5, as appeareth by the oath of the men 
aforesaid. Sum £60. 



No. 11. 

Extracts from the " Fabric Rolls at York Minster" published by the Sur- 
tees Society. 

[translation]. 

Certain matters discovered in the visitations of the Cathedral Church of 
York, and also of the Churches to the same appertaining, within the pro- 
vince of York. — [Date about A.D. 1414]. 

Masham.— Master William Clynt, vicar, is at the General Council of 
Constance. The Commissary hath inspected the Choir and Chancel, and 
they were found sound, and becoming complete, windows of the Choir being 



APPENDIX. 535 

in process of building by the Lord Prebendary at bis own proper costs. Sir 
John Wath, chaplain of Masham, both in the church thereof, and elsewhere, 
misconducts himself among the parishioners, and frequently haunts common 
taverns, and at least, for two or three days in the week, is intoxicated, and 
challenges the parishioners to tight with him. The parochial chaplains of 
Masham refuse to perform, or celebrate, the obsequies of deceased infants, 
and poor persons whomsoever, unless they first be satisfied, by the friends and 
parents, of twopence for every night watch, which they have frequently ex- 
torted. The chaplains receive at every solemnization of marriage, eight- 
pence, of the money placed upon the book, contrary to their ancient usages, 
and the parishioners pray for the imposition of silence on the same chap- 
lains. — No. Lin., p. 249. 

\_Same heading as above"]. 

Masham. — The Chancel is defective in the ceiling. The guardian of the 
jurisdiction claims from the executors of these deceased persons who have 
made wills, one signet ring, when the testator had none, contrary to the an- 
cient custom. — p. 255. 

[Same heading]. 

Masham. — The ceiling over the Altar in the Chancel is wanting. The 
Chancel is defective in one beam in the roof, and in glass windows. Three 
roods of land appertaining to the church of Masham for the maintenance of 
of one lamp, are withheld by Richard Pygot, Sergeant-at-Law. — p. 259. 

[Same heading]. 

Masham. — The parishioners think they had great wrong, because they 
wanted a parish priest three quarters of a year. Also the neighbors think 
they have wrong that they may not have the tithe calves and lambs, but 
other men without the parish buy them. Also they think they have wrong 
that if a poor person sell one of the worst calves, they take the best to tithe. 
Also we desire to know what a servant should pay to tithe for his hire, for 
as much as 10s. is drawn from poor servants that have but a small wage to 
find them : it is sore for them to take so much. Also the parsonage, and 
the houses that belong to it, go down and are unrepaired. Also they com- 
plain that there is no ceiling over the high altar. Also they think they 
would have the high mass done in the work-day between 9 and 10 of the 
clock, and of the Holiday begun at 10 of the clock. — p. 263. 

\_Same heading]. 

Masham. — An ordinance for celebrating divine service in the summer 
and winter time, in the church of Masham. 

On Saturday, that is to say the 13 th day of August in the year of our 
Lord 1519, it is appointed that from the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin 
Mary [25th March] unto the Feast of the Nativity of the same [25th Deer.], 
the first bell shall be rung for matins at 6 o'clock, and that they commence 
matins at 7 o'clock. And from the Feast of the Nativity unto the feast of 



536 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary, the first bell be rung at half an hour 
before seven, and they ought to commence matins at half an hour before 
eight. And for celebrating vespers it is appointed that the first bell be 
sounded at 1 o'clock, and that they commence vespers at 2 o'clock in winter 
time ; and in summer time the last bell be rung at 2 o'clock aforesaid, and 
they commence vespers at 3 o'clock. [This order was made in consequence 
of a request from the parish]. Also they desire that a fixed time be ap- 
pointed for celebrating divine service — the parish extending to 5 miles. — 
P. 269. 

No. 12. 

Extract from Burner's "Fcedera" vol. vi., p. 126. 
[translation]. 

36 h' ' 8th i To a11 ' &c •' Tllomas Wriothesley, Knight, of the most noble Order 
of the Garter, Lord Wriothesley, and Chancellor of England, 
Greeting in the Lord everlasting. Know ye, that I have granted to my 
most excellent and invincible Prince and Lord, my Lord Hy. 8th, by the 
grace of God of England, &c, all those my advowsons, presentations, do- 
nations, free dispositions, and rights of patronage, of the Prebend of Mas- 
ham, within the metropolitan church of York, in the county of the city of 
York, and of the Rectory and parish church of Shillington in the county of 
Bedford, and the Rectory of the parish church of Great Bowdon in the 
county of Leicester, &c. 

In testimony whereof, to this my present charter, I have affixed my seal 
of arms. Given the last day of May in the 27th year of the said Lord the 
King. 

No. 13. 

Extracts from Torres 3ISS., preserved in the Library of the Dean and 
Chapter of York. 

York Minster. — Prebend of Masham. 
Masham Preb. £136 13s. 9d. 

R. Steph. Roger de Mowbray granted to the Church of St. Peter of 
York, the Churches of Massam, Kirkby Malesart, and four other Churches. 
Yet before that, Walter Buhert, with his own hand, offered upon the altar of 
St. Peter, the Church of Massam, in frankalmoign, to hold the same to God, 
St. Peter, and the Canons thereof; and to Roger de Albini then holding it 
for a Prebend, and William de Sunelli, exempted the same from the Arch- 
deacon's jurisdiction. 

Extent. — According to the old extent of this Prebend of Massam. 

Church. — The Prebendary is Rector of the Church of Massam, which 
was exempted from all customs and exactions of the Archdeacon. 

Manor. — Hath his manor thereon (which was built of many tenements.) 



APPENDIX. 537 

Tenements and Lands. — Also, hath these following tenements which 
belong to his Prebend, viz : — 

1. — The Lord Hen. le Scrop holds 4 tenements, and 3 oxgangs of land — 
and another tenement called 

2. — P. B. holds one Tenement — ibid — and another tenement called Ald- 
burgh-place. — Also one Oxgang of land. 

3. — W. T. holds one tenement, and 8 acres of land. 

4. — A. B. holds one tenement, and 7 acres of land. 

5. — J. B. holds two tenements and 1 oxgang, and 7 acres of land, and one 
tenement, within the Prebendal manor. 

6. — J. W. holds 2 tenements, 2 oxgangs, and 3 roods of land. 

7. — O. H. holds one tenement, and 3 acres of land. 

8. — Moreover, there are two tenements there called Hackford-place, and 

6 other tenements, with their gardens ; and one acre in the N fields, upon 

Elyngton-gate, and § an acre in le Sorcrofte ; and \ an acre in les Lofebultes. 

Jurisdiction. — The Prebendary hath jurisdiction of all and singular the 
sojourners and inhabitants of the same town of Masham. 

Sutton. — It. — The Prebendary hath dominion and all manner of juris- 
diction of 2 tenements, and a close containing 4 acres in Sutton. 

Elyngton. — It. — The Prebend hath in Elyngton, dominion and jurisdic- 
tion of three tenements, and three acres of land. 

Wandsworth. — It. — It. — The Prebendary hath in Wandsworth, all 
kind of jurisdiction of one close at the end of the town, and of all other the 
inhabitants of the said town. 

Fetherby. — It. — The Prebendary hath in Fetherby [Fearby], dominion 
and all manner of jurisdiction, and 7 tenements, 3 oxgangs, and \ acre of 
land. 

Elyngthangs. — It. — The Prebendary hath in Elynthangs, dominion 
and jurisdiction of all the inhabitants thereof, and one tenement with \ an 
acre of land. 

Burton Super. — It. — The Prebendary hath in Upper Burton, dominion 
and jurisdiction of all tenants and inhabitants therein, and 2 tenements, and 
f an acre of land. 

Major and Minor. — And jurisdiction of those of Burton's. 

Aldburgh. — It. — The Prebendary hath dominion and jurisdiction of all 
the tenants and lands which the Abbot of Fountains holds of him in Ald- 
burgh, *. e. — Aldburgh- grange and North Cote. 

Ilton. — It. — The Prebendary hath dominion and jurisdiction of all ten- 
ants and inhabitants in Ilton, and 3 tenements, and one oxgang of land, ibid. 

It. — The Prebendary hath jurisdiction of all these places and towns fol- 
lowing, viz : — Slapewath, Sowremire, Pickerisgill, Leghton, and Leghton 
with the Vaccary and Grange of Pott, belonging to the Abbot of Fountains 
■ — Helagh, with Helagh Cotts, Elington Upper, Nether Swynton, Wardes- 
marke— a mansion at Biggante. 

KlRKEBY MALESABD. 

It. — The Prebendary of Masham, is Rector of the Church of Kirkby Mal- 

00 



538 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



sard, which (together with Massam), was exempted from all customs and ex- 
actions of the Archdeacon and his officials, by Sewell, Archbishop of York, 
and the Chapter of the same. 

Dominion. — Jurisdiction. — Also, hath dominion and jurisdiction of all 
the tenants and inhabitants of the same town. 

Tenements and Lands. — And 2 free tenements, with their crofts, and 
1 acre and 3 roods of land. 

Bond. — Also, there are held of him, by tenants in bondage, 4 tenements, 
4 oxgangs of land, and 7 cottages. 

Moreover, there are in the Parish of Kirkby Maleshard, these subsequent 
towns, hamlets, granges, and places, which pertain to the jurisdiction of this 
Prebend of Massam, viz : — the towns of Azerlawe [Azerley], Thorpe 
[Grewelthorpe], Wykelhaw, Wraythwayte, Langell, Laverton, the Hamlets 
of Wyfose, Katesmore [Ketsmoor], Sweton, Carleton Dale, and Dale Bonhous, 
the Granges of Galghow [Galphay], Wyggyngs, Bramle, and divers places 
and Granges, within Nidderdale, * viz : — Angram, "Westhouse, Loge [Lodge], 
Sykeshouse, Hackenker [Heathen-Car], Woldale, Newhouscs, Lymb [Lim- 
ley], Trop, Middlesmore, Steane, Stodfolde, Lofthouse, Morehouse de Steane, 
Brathwayte [Bouthwaite,] Ramesgill, Ragil house, Calf hull house [Calval- 
house,] Goldethwayte [Gowthwaite,] Sixford [Sigs worth], Irfeld, Effald, 
and one part of He with, Wynnesley [Winsle], Brunsle. 

11 Kalend Junii, A.D. 1295. 

The Prebend of Massam being then vacant, the P. [Pope] by his 
apostolical authority, constituted out of it 3 Prebends, every of them to be of 
equal value, viz : — to consist of £50 sterling, per annum. And of the resi- 
due of the profits thereof, while it was entire to be totally assigned to the 
common use of the chapter. 

1. — And collated the first Prebend on Robert de Lascy, his clerk. 

2. — The 2nd, on Theobald, kinsman to the noble Earl of Ban*. 

3. — And the 3rd, on Boniface de Salucis, his clerk. 

The old taxation of this Prebend of Massam, was £250, and the new tax- 
ation £120. 



3 July, 28 Hen. VIII. 
Thomas Bedyill, clerk, Preb. of Massam, demised unto John Foswyck, 
Esq., treasurer, of the first fruits and tenths for the term of 50 years, all that 
his Prebend of Massam, with all the houses, lands, tythes, obventions to it 
belonging, with the Parsonage of Langforde (except the Mansion-place 
within the City of York), rendering per ann. rent £136 13s. 4.d. 



Churches Peculiar.— Massam Church of St. Mary. 

Land. — In the town of Massam and Little Burton, were 22 carucates of 
land, which answered for one Knight's fee. 

* Mr. Grainge, in his History of Nidderdale, p. 169, says, that the places in Nidderdale here men- 
tioned, are thus enumerated in an account previous to 1296, 



APPENDIX. 539 



Also there are 6 carucates, all which excepting 2 oxgangs held in Frank- 
almoign by the Knights' Templars, were held by John de Watton [Wauton], 
who held the same of Roger de Mowbray, and he of John de Brittannia, as 
he of the King in Capite. — Walter Buheret offered the church of Massam, in 
frankalmoign to God and St. Peter of York, and to Roger de Albini and his 
successors, Prebendaries thereof. 



K. Steph. fo. 59. 



Church. — Roger de Mowbray granted to the church of St. Peter of 
York, this church of Massam, which became a Prebend therein from that time 
and was exempted from all archdeaconal customs and exactions : so the Pre- 
bend of Massam is Rector of the church thereof; having there his manor, 
many tenements, and about 10 oxgangs of land (4 tenements and 3 oxgangs 
whereof were held by the Lord Scrope, of Massam, over which the Prebend- 
ary hath all spiritual jurisdiction). 

Geffrey le Scrope procured a charter for free-warren in all his demesne 
lands at Massam, as also a Wednesday-market there, and two fairs yearly ; 
one on the eve and day of St. Barnaby the Apostle, and the eve and day of 
our Lady's Assumption. 

The Prebendary of Massam has jurisdiction in all these towns and 
places, viz : — Towns — Sutton, Elyngton, upper and nether, Wandesworth, 
Fetherby, Elyngstring, Burton, major and minor, Aldburgh, North Cot, 
Ilton, Slapewath, Sowremyre, Pickerisgill, Leghton, Leghton with the 
Vaccary and Grange of Pott, belonging to the Abbot of Fountains, Helagh 
with Helagh Cotts, Swynton, Wardesmarke, Biggente Mansion. 

The Vicarage of Masham is valued in the King's Books, viz : — 

First Fruits £46 6 8 

Tenths 4 13 4 

Subsidies 4 4 

13th Nov, | John Baldersby, Vicar of Massam and Kirkby Malshard, 
A.D. 1448. j made his will (proved 25th Nov. 1448), giving his soul to God 
Almighty, St. Mary, and all saints, and his body to be buried in the church 
of St. Andrew, of Kirkby Malesart. 

24th Nov. ) John Montfort, Vicar of Massam and Kirkby Malesart, 
A.D. 1498. j made his will (proved 21st Jany. a.d. 1499), commending his 
soul to God almighty, St. Mary, and all saints, and his body to be buried in 
the quire of the church of Kirkby Malesart. 

MlDDLESMOOR CHAPEL. 

15th Nov. 1484. 
This Composition and Concord was made between the Prebendary 
of Massam, and Vicar of Kirkby Malsard, of the one part, and the inhabi- 
tants of the town of Middlesmoor, in Nidderdale, on the other part, viz : — 
That the said inhabitants of the town of Middlesmoor, have therein one 



540 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

chapel, in which they were wont to hear divine service celebrated by stipend- 
iary chaplain of their own, and also to have the sacraments administered to 
them by license of the Vicar, and now desire to have the said chapel and 
chapel yard consecrated, that they might bury therein, and have baptisms 
and marriages solemnized. 

Wherefore, they promised for themselves and successors, inhabitants 
thereof, to pay all the tithes due, as well to the Prebendary, as to the Vi- 
car of Kirkby (in which parish it is), and will likewise observe all customs 
heretofore used, and also contribute towards the repairs and other burdens 
of the mother church of Kirkby. 

On loth Nov. a.d, 1484. 

Obtained the Archbishop's Commission directed to "William, Bishop of 
Dromore, to consecrate the said chapel and chapel yard.* 

And on the 16th Novbr. 1484, the said Indenture of Covenant was con- 
firmed by Thomas, Archbishop of York, accordingly. 



No. 14. 

Extracts from Dodsworth's MSS., preserved in the Bodleian Library, at 
Oxford, No. 5101, Vol. 160,/o. 268. 

Masham Church, 19th October, 1622. Choir.— East Window. 

[translation.] 

" Pray for Sir John Stacy, Prebendary of the Prebend of Masham." 
Buiided by \ i n the north choir a fair new monument with the portraitures 
his lifetime, j of a man and his wife — beneath six sons armed, and two 
daughters kneeling. 

Quarterlys : — First : gules, three chevrons embraced, vair, a chief or. 
Second : Sable, three pickaxes, argent, a crescent-moon, or. Third : Azure, 
chief dancette, or. Fourth : Azure, a bend, or, with a file argent ; paled 
with azure, a bend or, with a crescent-moon, argent. The same paled with 
Danby. 

[Inscription translated as under.] 

"Here lieth Sir Marmaduke Wyvell, Knight, the first baronet of 
his name, son and heir of Christopher, by Margaret, daughter of John 
Scrope. Christopher was son and heir of Marmaduke, and Agnes one of the 
five sisters and co-heiresses of John, son and heir of Sir Ralph Fitz Randall, 
Knight, and Elizabeth one of the three sisters and co-heiresses of Ralph Lord 
Scrope, of Masham ; Marmaduke was the son and heir of Robert, son and 
heir of Robert and Joan, daughter and heir of John Pigot. 

In the year of our Lord 1613, when this monument was erected, Marma- 
duke by Magdalen, daughter of Sir Christopher Danby, Knight, had six sons 
and two daughters living. His then heir apparent was Christopher Mar- 
maduke, son of Christopher. — Barbara the only begotten daughter of Mar- 
maduke. 

* " loth Nov. 1484, a Commission was issued to William, Bishop of Dromore, to consecrate 
Capellam et Cimiterium in valle de Mijdlemore infra circuitum de Nidderdale."— Fabric Rolls of York 
Minster, p. 241, Surtees Society. 



APPENDIX. 541 

He lived till the age of 76 years, and died in the year of his only 
Redeemer (to whom he all glory and hlessing) 1617, and on the 9th day of 
the month of January. 

The names of his sons were Christopher Marmaduke, Humphrey, Francis 
parson of Spennithorne, William a lawyer, John, Elizabeth, wife of Christo- 
pher Phillipson, of [Galgarth] Westmoreland, Mary, wife of [Thomas] 
Percehay, of Riton, widow of Francis Briggs of Malton. 

KiRKBY MALASARD CHURCH. — NORTH WINDOW. 

Argent, on a fesse, entre, two cotises, gules, three Ostrich feathers of the 
first. 

South Window. 

Argent, three chevrons embraced on a chief of [or], the two molletts, 
of the first. Azure, a bend or, a file argent. 

North Window. 

[translation]. 

" Pray for the soul of Wm. Baynare, chaplain, who caused this window 
to be made." 

Note. — That Kirkby Malasard and Masham, are two several parish 
churches, yet but one parsonage and one vicarage. Some time they were a 
Prebend of York, and dissolved by Hen. VIII., when he founded Trinity 
College, in Cambridge, and gave them to the same, who are now patrons. 



No. 15. 
Extracts from the Records at Lambeth Palace. 
Endowments of Vicarages, Vol. 2. York Diocese. 
Marsham Vicarage, and Kirkby Malzeard Vicarage — endowment of 
United Vicarages belonging to the Prebend of Marsham, Nones [oth] April, 
1278, in Register of dean and chapter of York. 

Chester Diocese. 

Massam and Kirkby Malesard Vicarage — endowment of Vicarage, Kal- 
ends of April, 1278. — Acts of Chapter, marked L, p. 67. — Register of Leases 
marked T. b. p. 93. Do. marked T. c. p. 48. Acts of Chapter marked X. a. p. 
18 (York Registry). 



No. 18. 

Parliamentary Surveys, Vol. 18, p. 130. 

At the Sitting held at Knaresborough the twenty-eighth day of 
May, in the year of our Lord, 1650, by virtue of a Commission for enquiry 
of church livings, before Sir Robert Barwick, Knight, Colonel Charles Fair- 
fax, Esq., Henry Arthington, Thomas Stockdale, Thomas Dickenson, George 
Marwood, Sampson Staveley, and John Stanhope, Esqres., Commissioners, 
who upon their enquiry find as followeth : — 



542 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

KlRKBYE MALZARD. 

"We find Kirkbye Malzard a parish, and extends to these towns and 
villages,' namely, Kirkbye Malzard, Azerley, Grewelthorpe, Larton cum 
Missis, Hartwy tch cnm Wynsley, Langley, Brastonewood, Dallowgill, Stayne- 
bcck-up, Carlesmoore, Staynebeck-down, Kettsmoore, Fountaynes Earth. 

It is a Vicarage presentative with cure of souls, and the cure at Kirkbye 
Malzard, supplied by Mr. Christopher Lancaster, preaching minister, whose 
maintenance arising out of the said parish, is only certain small tithes and 
duties not worth above £40 per annum. 

There is only one chapel in that parish called Middlesmore chapel, which 
is supplied by Mr. John Cooper, who hath no other maintenance but what 
the people doth give him. We find that the tithe of the said parish are ap- 
propriated and granted to Trinity College, whose farmers do receive the pro- 
fits. We conceive it necessary that besides the said church of Kirkbye Mal- 
zard, and the chapel of Middlesmore, there be one church erected more for 
the said towns of Brinham, Hartwith,* Winsley, and Brayston Wood, these 
places being far remote both from the said church and chapel, and fit to be a 
distinct parish from Kirkby Malzard. — Page 158. 



Extracts taken from the Act Books belonging to the Ecclesiastical or Peculiar 
Court of Massani, from the year 1583 to the year 1641, containing the 
Presentments ichich were made in the Ecclesiastical Court there. 

At a Court held in Massam Church, on the lQth July 1583, before Edward 
Eaivcett, Official. 

Lawrence Johnson, of Healey, that he begott a child in fornication with 
Jane Buckle six years ago, and hath, as yet, escaped without punishment for 
the same. — The Judge ordered him to do penance. 

Ellen Metcalf, for fornication with Richard Chambers. — Condemned to do 
penance. 

John Walker, for that he harboured a woman with child, who was deliv- 
ered of the said child in his house, and after the delivery thereof, did convey 
or suffer her to go away before she had done penance for the same. They 
know not the woman's name, nor from whence she came. 

Ann Johnson, of Fearbi, for that she harboured a woman called Marga- 
ret Slater, being with child, and delivered of the said child, in the house of 
the said Ann Johnson, and hath gone away without penance doing for the 
same . — Excommunicated. 

William Ward, for that he harboured in his house, one Margaret Wyche, 
who was delivered of a child in his house, and went away without penance 
doing. 

* This recommendation does not appear to have been attended to, as it was not till the year 
1751, that a chapel was built at Hartwith. It was built by the subscription of landowners and 
tenants, and was consecrated 7th August, 1751. It was enlarged in 1830, at the expense of the 
landowners aided by a grant of £230 from the Church Building Society. The chapel yard was en- 
larged and consecrated in 1827. The annual value of the living is £116. 



APPENDIX. 543 

"William Ward, for that he harboured another woman in his house called 
Isabel Hally well with base child in the house of the said Warde ; and went 
^,way without penance doing for the same. 

Margaret Wiches, for fornication with Richard Burton, of Ingerthorpe, 
near Ripon. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Teasdale, and Ann Servant, for fornication. — Excommunicated. 

Dorothy Broadwith, for that she is from her husband. 

Isabelle Hallywell, for fornication with Wm. Ward. — Excommunicated. 

Jane Hawkins, and Jo. Jackson, for fornication. — Excommunicated. 

Margaret Crosbie, for fornication. — Excommunicated. 

Margaret Glewe, for fornication. — Excommunicated. 

At a Court held the 31st July, 1584, in Masham Church. — 

The Churchwardens of Kirkby Malzeard, and Cornelius Wells, clerk, 
Vicar of the same, for that their vicaredge is in decaie in the defoulte of the 
said Mr. Wells, and their queare is in decaie and not cleanlie kept, and not 
repayred in default as before. — Deferred. 

At a Court held the 6th October, 1587. — 
William Williamson, of Ellingstring, for that he committed fornication 
with Ann Askwith, and hath gotten a child in fornication with her. — He 
confessed the charge, and was ordered to do penance. 

At a Court held the 5th December, 1587. — 
Thomas Pratt, of Healey, and Matilda Crawland, of Massam, for fornica- 
cation with each other. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Horseman, of Massam, and Helena Wright, of Cowling, for for- 
nication together. — Excommunicated. 

At a Court held the 31st 31arch, 1589. — 

Thomas Punder, of Ellingstring, and Dorothy Teasdale, for fornication. 

Peter Mylner, William Wray, and Richard Hanley, for that they refuse 
to pay their sessments to the church. — Excommunicated. 

Richard Pickersgill, of Hilton, for that he keepeth apedder [pedler's] wife 
in his house, very suspitiously to the offence of his neighbours. 

At a Court held the 10th Feb. 1591.— 
William Atkinson, Milner [Miller], and his wife, for fornication together 
before marriage. — Excommunicated. 

At a Court held the 12th Oct. 1592, at Masham Church. — 

Henry Chatter, and Matilda Crawland, for fornication together. — Excom- 
municated the man. 

Thomas Smorthwaite, and Elizabeth Cusse, for fornication. 

Nicholas Pickersgill, of Ilton, for that he keepeth a pedder wife in his 
house very suspiciously, to the great offence of his neighbours, and was en- 
joyned to put her away, and never to come in her company again, either in 



544 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

church or market ; and yet he keepeth her still in his house, &c. — to the 
great danger of his own soul. 

At a Court held the 2,2nd of April, 1594. — • 

John Horseman, of Stonefold, near Healey, for there was a young woman 

brought from , who had a child in his house begotten in fornication by 

Christopher Horseman, now deceased. — Excommunicated. 

Anthony Beckwith, of Nutwith Cote, for that a proper young woman was 
brought to his house, and there bare a child begotten in fornication, and he 
hath suffered her to depart unpunished. — Excommunicated. 

At a Court held in Masham Church, 16 July, 1601. 
Matthew Sraorthit, of Healey, and Ellen Pickersgill, for fornication 
before marriage. 

At a Court held in Masham Church before the Rev. Gilbert Horseman, on 
the 8th April, 1618. 

Robert Watson, presented for adultery or fornication with Mary Gregg. 

Robert Ponder, presented for committing the crime of adultery with 

Fyshwick. 

"William King, presented for adultery or fornication with Anne Pattison. 
— He confesseth it. 

Isabel Danby, wife of Christopher Danby, Gen., Constance Beckwyth, 
wife of Richard Beckwith, John Smerthwaite, Thomas Walker, Katherine 
Norton, wift of Robert Norton, Gen., Ellen and Elizabeth Norton, Christ'r 
Reyner, Senr., Christ'r Theakston, Christopher Watson, Margaret Smyth 
the wife of John Smith, Dorothy Brunton, Edward Brunton, Richard At- 
kinson and Agnes his wife, Margaret Atkinson widow, and Marmaduke Atkin- 
son her son, Lambert Wade, Richard Lucas and his wife, Agnes, wife of Anth'y 
Crosbye, Elizabeth, wife of William Kinge, Frances, * the wife of Christopher 
Danbye, of Leighton, Esq., John Carter, Lucy Jackson, widow, Marmaduke 
Wintersgill, and Janet his wife, and son, John Gleadston, Thomas Jackson, 
sen., and Ann his wife, William Cowper, Janet Jackson, widow, Robert f 
Wivel, gent., and Alice, his wife, Luna [or Lucy], Wyvil, widow, Cuthbert 
Wivell, and Elizabeth, his wife, John Win, Mary Redil, Thomas Spence, 
and Luna [or Lucy], his wife, Julia, wife of Christ'r Beckwith, Ann Hodg- 
son, widow, and Ralph Wildman, presented for Recusants, and for standing 
excommunicate in not appearing to answer their Recusancy. 

Jane Wivel, % presented for harbouring many papistical Recusants § 
resorting to her house. 

* She was the daughter of Edward Parker, Lord Morley, and the wife of Christopher Danby, 
Esq., Lord of Mashamshire. — See ante p. 268. 

t Robert Wyvill was the sixth son of Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, Bart., by Magdalen daughter 
of Sir Christopher Danby, Knt. 

t She was the widow of Christopher Wyvill. 

§ At the Reformation those were deemed Recusants who disputed the authority of the Crown 
in causes Ecclesiastical, and denied the King's supremacy : but the Acts of Parliament made 
against Recusants, particularly the 35 Eliz., describe a Recusant to be " one who does not repair 
to some church or chapel or usual place of common prayer to hear divine services." Afterwards, 
receiving the Sacrament of the Church was made a further test of conformity. 



APPENDIX. 545 

William Theakston, for not receiving the holy communion ; and also, for 
that they buried Catherine Langdale, and Jane her daughter, being excom- 
municate Recusants, at the time of their death in the churchyard of Masham. 

At a Court held at York Cathedral before Thomas Corney, the 29th July, 
1618. 
Edward Bovell of Massam, presented for that he was married with Mar- 
garet Foster without Banns asking, and as is thought in a private house.* 

At a Court held the 1st April, 1619. 

William Dodgeson, William Kinge, Richard Horner, and Christopher 
Williamson, churchwardens, for that there is wanting in the church a Pulpit 
cloth, a cushion for the Pulpit, the Book of Constitutions [canons] and the 
Book of Bishop Jewell. 

Henry Pickard, for teaching a Schoole at Massam not knowne to be 
licensed. f 

Simon Lambert, for teaching at Ilton, not knowne to be licensed. 

Edward Sanderson and Maria Lleadley, for fornication together. 

Thomas Smurthwaite, and Katherine Wilson, presented for the crime of 
fornication together. 

Samuel Pinder, and A. . . . Teasdell, presented for committing the crime 
of fornication before marriage. 

Peter Spooner and Dorothy Applebye, for committing the crime of for- 
nication together. 

At a Court held before John Lawrence, 2 Sepr., 1619. 

Henry Chatter, William Theakston, Christopher Renyer, Christopher 
Clarke, John Awton senr., Richard Hodgson, Christopher of S win- 
ton, for not paying their 'Sessments for bread and wine [church-rate]. 

John Beckwith of Massam, for not paying his 'sessment of 6d. in the 
pound, and for taking upon him to bury his mother, being a Recusant, and 
dying excommunicate. 

Robert Greaveson, for not paying his 'sessment for bread and wine, 4d. 

Charter, widow, for the like. 

Majery Tailor, for having a child begotten in fornication, by Christopher 
Wilson. 

Elizabeth Rainton, for having a child begotten in fornication by John 
Cross, and late the miller of Burton milne. 

Thomas Mankin and his wife, for fornication before marriage. 

John Theakston, of Ellingstring, senr., forbidding the churchwardens do 
their worst against him — being wished to go into the church. 

William Casse, for keeping his hat on in communion time. 

* The offence here indicated was that they had been married by a Roman Catholic priest. 

t By the 77th Canon, no man shall teach a school but such as shall be licensed by "..the Bishop 
of the Diocese or Ordinary of the place ; and this is also enjoined by the Statutes 23 Eliz., cap. 1, 
the 13 and 14 Charles II. , cap. 4 — the latter of which also requires that every schoolmaster shall 
make a declaration that he will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England. Even at this 
day the churchwardens are called upon every year to state whether there are any persons teach- 
ing schools within their respective parishes who have not been licensed. 

PP 



546 MASHAM AND MASHAMSIURE. 

At a Court held at York Cathedral before Thomas Corney, the 2%th 
Sep. 1619. 

Thomas Johnson and Ann Ringer, for committing- the crime of fornica- 
tion together. 

Thomas Jaques of Swinton, and Catharine Beckwith — the like. 

Christopher Wilson of Masham, for committing fornication with Ann his 
now wife before their marriage. 

At a Court held the Uth Feb. 1620. 

Thomas Theakston and Ann Ringer, for adultery or fornication together. 

At a Court held in the Church of Kirkby 31alzeard. on the 5th Sep- 
tember, 1621. 

Thomas Salywicke, "William John Winne, and John Kirkby, for not 
receiving the holy communion, and for that they are Recusants. 

Thomas Kinge, for not living with his wife. 

John Smithson, for that he was married forth [out] of his own parish 
church. 

Francis Lofthouse and Margaret his wife, for the like. 

Edward Wintersgill of Fearby, for getting of a child in fornication, with 
Dorothy Pattison. 

George Bawker and Janet Harrison, for committing of fornication 
together. 

Marrnaduke Walker and Elizabeth Walker, for the like. 

William Theakston for burying of Christopher Theakston, a Recusant 
and excommunicate, in the night time. 

Henry Teasdale and Jane his present wife, for committing fornication 
together before their marriage. 

William Dodgson and Jane his wife, for the like. 

Note. — Win. Dodgson confessed " that he committed the crime aforesaid 
on the said Jane, afore their marriage." — The Judge " did enjoy ne that they 
should acknowledge their faults before the minister and churchwardens, and 
to pay 6s. to the repairs of Burnebridge." 

Richard Atkinson, of Ash-head, for that six or seven of his children were 
baptized they know not where, but as he saith some of them in Netherdale, 
and some of them in Masham parish. 

At a Court held in York Cathedral before Thomas Coney, on the 9th Sep- 
tember, 1622. 

Richard Horner and Ellen Lonsdale, alias Horner his wife, for having 
a child begotten in adultery or fornication before their marriage. 

At a Court held in Ifassam Church 16 Dec. 1623. 

William Welfoote and Anne Johnson, for fornication together. — Excom- 
municated. 

Henry Lowson of Fearby, and Jane Baine, for the like. — Excommu- 
nicated. 



APPENDIX. 547 

Christopher Ringer and Jane Dodgson, for fornication together before 
they were married. 

John Grainge of Healey, and Ann Pinder, alias Grainge his reputed wife, 
being married without their parish church, and for fornication together. — 
Excommunicated. 

Robert Jackson and Ellen Batty, alias Jackson his reputed wife, for the 
like. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Teasdell, Richard Beckwith, William Gray, Anthony Horsman, 
Christopher Thwaite, William Horsman the elder, Henry Browne, Janetta 
Walker widow, William Mawer, Henry Taylor gent., Henry Chater, Wil- 
liam Gregg, Christopher Gregg, and Marmaduke Beckwith, for not paying 
their 'sessments to the church. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Walker of the Coate, and Leonora Plewes of Massam, for fornica- 
tion together. 

Richard Horner and Ellen Langdale, for fornication before marriage. 

Isabella Danby, wife of Christopher Danby, Margery Watson widow, 
Thomas Walker, Stephen Wintersgill, and Catherine his wife, Elizabeth 
Wilson, Alice Peake, and Ralph Norton of Massam, Popish Recusants. — 
Excommunicated. 

John Scott and Dorothy Lucas, for being present at the burial of Ralph 
Lucas, an excommunicate person and a Recusant. — Excommunicated. 

Thompson, * of Skelfeyyeate, suspected to be a Popish Priest. — Ex- 
communicated. 

John Grainge, for having a child christened with a Popish Priest called 
Thompson.* — Excommunicated. 

Robert Dawson, Christopher Ellerker, gent., and Jo. Hawkeswell, church- 
wardens, for not appearing at the visitation. 

Simon Awton and Dorothy Jackson, for fornication together. 

Stephen Wintersgill of Massam, blacksmith, and Catherine his wife, 

John Smithson of Swinton, Webster [Weaver], and Eleanor his wife, Jo. 

Dawson of the same place, husbandman, and Mary his wife, Anna the wife 

of Jo. Slater of the same place, husbandman, Thomas Gowland of the same 

place, Webster and his wife, Agnes Clerk wife of Jo. Clerke, labourer, Jo. 

Ward of the same place, husbandman, Frances Smith widow, Christopher 

Watson of Swinton, Jo. Jackson of High Ellington, yeoman, and Jane his 

wife, George Braithwaite and Ann his wife, Anthony Lofthouse and Dorothy 

his wife, Baine widow, and Ann her daughter, Jo. Burrill and his wife, 

Maria wife of Peter Hanley, Tho. Hambleton and his wife, and Matthew 

his son, Ralph King and Margaret his wife the wife of William King, 

Robert Jackson and Ellen his wife, Christopher Johnson of Fearby, Eliz. 

the wife of William Bower, Margaret Lowson widow, Jo. Lowson and Anna 

his wife, Thomas Mallersonhall and Edith his wife, Marmaduke Kirkeby 

* If this is the same person as is mentioned by Bishop Chaloner in his Memoirs of the Mis- 
sionary priests under the name of John Tompson, he was born in Mdderdale, and afterwards be- 
came a Seminary priest. In the year 1651, he was apprehended at Malton on that charge, was 
placed in the Stocks there and afterwards sent to York Castle, where he was tried and convicted, 
but died before his execution. — See Eaine's Depositions from York Castle, page 47. 



548 MASHAM AND MASIIAMSHIRE. 

and Anne his wife, Margaret the wife of Sampson Horseman, Elizabeth 
Baker, Recusants. 

William Ripley, for teaching children in his house without a licence. 

Christopher Done and Anne Red, for having a child in fornication 
together. 

Robert Tennant and Dorothy Tilford, for the like. 

Robert Cowper and Lucy Baine, his wife, for fornication before marriage. 

William Missy and his wife, for the like. 

Thomas Scrowthorpe, for working npon the sabbath-day. 

Thomas Walker and Francis Walker, for burying Michael Walker, an 
excommunicate person. 

Robert Armistead, Mallory Normanville, and Lancelot Walton, junr., for 
burying of Dorothy Armistead, an excommunicate person. 

William Talbot [of Kirkby Malzeard parish], for harbouring a Popish 
priest in bis house to say mass there. 

Henry Duffield [of Kirkby Malzeard parish], for having Mass done in his 
house as is reported. 

The same Henry Duffield, for having a child christened forth [out] of his 
parish church, and not knowne where. 

Thomas Bird, for having superstitious crossings with towells at the burial 
of one of his children. 

Jo. Wiseman, for the like when his wife was buried. 

William Dawson, Christopher Hanson, and Henry Duffield, for not pay- 
ing their 'cessments [church rates]. 

Catherine the wife of Leonard Lcathley, Ann Richmond widow, Mar- 
garet Huille, Thomas Metcalfe, Thomas Walker, Junr. and Margaret his 
wife, Francis Atkinson, Ann the wife of Robert Fleetham, Margaret Winn, 
Ralph Burnett, Ann Smith widow, Margaret Rayner widow, Janetta the 
wife of Anthony Malthse, Jo. Waite and his wife, Marmaduke Blackburn 
and Ann his daughter, Francis Beckwith and Janetta his wife, Gilbert 
Beckwith, Christopher Smyth, Catherine Heslington, George Theakston, 
Isabella the wife of Gilbert Theakston, William Talbott, Stephen Talbott 
and Margaret his reputed wife, Geoffrey East and Margaret Burneston his 
servants, Bridgett Armistead, Elizh. Wells, Margaret the wife of Thomas 
Birde, Stephen Fawcett, Elizh. his wife, Margaret the wife of William Gil- 
dar, Ann the wife of William Marshall, Gilbert Smith and Ann his wife, 
Henry Duffield and his wife, Dorothy Duffield widow, Ann the wife of 
Nicholas Beckwith, Robert Armistead, George Kirkby, Alice the wife of 
William Abbott, Ann Braithwaite, Dorothy the wife of Leonard Beckwith, 
Dorothy the wife of George Smith, Gilbert Atkinson and Margaret his 
wife, Barbara Foster, Margaret the wife of Thomas Lambe, Maria Reed, 
Elizh. Bell, Alice Ella. the wife of Lancelot Edon, Popish Recusants. 

At a Court held on the \4Ah July, 1624. 

John Carling of Healey, and Ann Grain ge, alias Pinder his reputed wife, 
Robert Jackson of litem, and Ellen Batty, alias Jackson, his reputed wife, 



APPENDIX. 549 

for being married clandestinely without licence or banns asking forth of 
their Parish Church. 

John Carter and Ann Atkinson, his reputed wife, and Christopher Beck- 
with of Nutwith Cote, and Smyth his reputed wife, for the like. 

At a Court held before Gilbert Horsman \d>th Aug. 1624. 

John Scowthorpe of Oldfield, and Ann Beckwith, alias Scowthorpe, of 
Nutwith Cote, his reputed wife, being married without licence or banns ask- 
ing, not known where. 

Christopher Beckwith of the same place, and Ann Smyth, alias Beckwith, 
being married in a priest's house without their parish church without licence 
or banns asking, 

J. Barker and Ann Atkinson, his reputed wife, for the like. 

Gilbert Atkinson and Christoper Smith, "for bragging or boasting that 
they would have a popish priest at their house, and if Mr. Horsman [the 
Vicar], came thither at that time, he should have hott service." 

Ann Pinger, for having a child begotten in fornication. 

Ann Morriss, for the like. 

Lucy Plcwes of Ellington, for the like. 

Christopher Pinder of Swinton, for harbouring of Ann Pinger, who have 
together at his house begotten a child in fornication. 

Mary Norris, for harbouring Ann Norris, for the like. 

At a Court held at the Church of Kirkhy Maheard 3Qlh Aug. 1624. 

Stephen Wintersgill and Catherine his wife, for not receiving the holy 
communion at Easter was twelve months. 

Edward Buckshaw and Ann his wife, of Masham, for not living together. 

Edward Johnson of Massam, for living suspiciously, and committing 
adultery with Ann Spark, his woman servant. 

Edward Johnson for vain swearing. 

Ann Hodgson, wife of Richard Hodgson of Swinton, for brawling and 
scolding. 

Eliz. the wife of Richard Cleveland, of Massam, and Ellen the wife of 
Christ. Moore, of Healey, for brawling and scolding. 

Robt. Theakston of Healey, for not bringing his children to the church 
to be christened. 

Soloman Adamson of Swinton and Margaret his wife, Jo. Ward of the 
same place, John Smith, John Gierke and his wife of the same place, Wil- 
liam Theakston and his wife of the same place, Thomas Madderson and 
Ann his wife, John Jackson of Sourmire and his wife, Elizabeth the wife 
of William Baker of Wardermaske, and Margaret the wife of Sampson 
Horseman — being Popish Becusants, and lately fallen away. 

Dorothy Johnson of Ilton, widow, Mary the wife of Peter Hanley of 
Pott, Thomas Hambleton, Robert Jackson and Ellen his wife, of Moorheads, 
Magdalen Jackson of the same place, spinster, Robt. Theakston and his wife 
of Healey, Lucy Jackson widow, of the same place, Marmaduke Ferbie of 



550 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

the same place, Francis Atkinson of Healey Coate, Barnabas Jackson of 
Healey, Thomas Kinge of Crabbe-tree House, Elizh. Bowes wife of Michael 
Bowes of Fearby, Alice Griswitt of the same place, Margaret Baine of the. 
same place, spinster, and Christopher Johnson of the same place, being 
Popish Recusants, and lately fallen away. 

At a Court held at the Church at Kirkby-Malzeard on the 23rd Feb. 1625, 
before Edward Watkinson, LL.D. 

Christopher Lodge and Elizh. Ward, of Massam, for committing fornica- 
tion together. 

Thomas Boddy and Margaret Tuting, of Ellington, for committing for- 
nication together. 

Isabella Scott, * for committing fornication with Christopher Danby, of 
Pott, and having a child begotten by him in fornication. 

Henry Pickerd churchwarden of Masham, for being negligent in the 
service of his office, and absenting of himself from the church in the time of 
prayers. 

At a Court held at the Church of Kirkby Malzeard on the 23rd Sept. 1626. 

Thomas Hodgson, f for reading of prayers and serving the cure of Mas- 
sam without a license from the Ordinary. — Dismissed. 

Towler, the son of Humphrey Towler, of Moorheads, for selling 

shoes on the sabbath days in the time of divine service. 

Sampson Butterfield and his wife, of Massam, Elizabeth the wife of 
Ralph Wilson, of the same place, Thomas Theakston, senr., and his wife, of 
Ellington, James Gleadston and his wife, Robert Williamson and his wife, 
Elizabeth Walker, spinster, of the same place, for not receiving the Holy 
Communion at Easter last. 

Christopher Lodge and Elizabeth Ward, for standing excommunicate. 

Edward Blackhouse and his wife, for the like. 

Stephen Wintersgill and his wife, for the like. 

Gilbert Atkinson and Ann his reputed wife, for being marryed by a 
Popish Priest, and hyfeere as is supposed, or for living unlawfully together. 
— Excommunicated. 

Henry Duffield, for having sundry Masses done in his house, and for 
having one of his children baptized by a Popish Priest as is thought. — Ex- 
communicated. 

Alice Sirre, and John Sirre [both of the parish of Kirkby Malzeard] , for 
saying a Pater-noster suspitiously for the soule of an old wife who had dyed 
at Gilbert Pickersgill's house at Ringbeck, after the funeral was done. — 
Excommunicated . 

At a Court held at Kirkby Malzeard Church, on the 6th Nov. 1626, before 
Edward Watkinson, LL.D. 
Thomas Theakston, Anthony Smirthwaite, Robert Boddie, and Robert 

* See as to this ante p. 269. 

t He became the curate of Masham about A.D. 1624.— See ante p. 334. 



APPENDIX. 551 

Awton, churchwardens, of Massam, for that they have not a table containing 
the Degrees for marriage. 

Henry Pickard, for not receiving the holy communion at Easter last. 

Sampson Walker and Margaret Horsman of Ilton, for being unlawfully 
married together as is thought by an unlawful .'minister, and yet living to- 
gether as man and wife. 

Christopher Beckwith, Junr., of Massam, and Maria Beckwith of Mas- 
sam, for the like. 

William Johnson and Sarah Pickersgill, for the like. 

Thomas Hebden of Ellingstring, for abusing the churchwardens with 
evil speeches in time of divine service. 

Henry Pickerd, for abusing the minister and churchwardens. 

At a Court held at Masham Church, on the 28th Feb. 1627, before Edward 
Watkinson, LL.D. 

John Sanderson of Healey, for teaching without license Excommuni- 
cated. 

Isabella Danby the wife of Christopher * Danby, gent., Robert Thwaite 
and Frances his daughter, Margaret Srnirthwaite, spinster, Alice Peake, 
spinster, Margaret Watson, widow, John Winde, Richard Atkinson of 
Moorheads, Barnabas Jackson of Healey, Lucy Jackson, widow, Mabel the 
wife of Henry Clarke of Healey, Thomas Gowland and his wife, John 
Jackson and his wife, John Jackson and his wife of Rawmore [Roomer] John 
Adamson and his wife of Swinton, Marmaduke Atkinson of Ash-head, 
Batchellor, presented for Popish Recusants. 

John Sanderson of Healey, for saying in a bragging manner he would 
teach School without license and stand excommunicate, and none come at 
the church. 

At a Court held in Kirkby Mallear d Church on the 19th May, 1628. 

John Hardcastle, for burying his grandmother, being excommunicated. — 
Excommunicated. 

At a Court held in Kirkby Malzeard Church on the l%th Dec. 1628, before 
JEdwd. Watkinson, LL.D. 

Christopher Gristhwaite and Jane Tuting his reputed wife, for being 
married as is reported, and the minister who married them not known and 
they having had a child together. 

Isabella Danby the wife of Christopher Danby, Alice Peake, spinster, 
Margaret Srnirthwaite, Marjery Watson, James Waite, gent., Elizabeth the 
wife of Myers Bowes, William Wintersgill and Isabella his wife, Ann the 
wife of William Cowper, Isabella the wife of George Clerke, Lucy Jackson, 
widow, Barnabas Jackson, Thomas Salrwick, Ellenor Moore, Catherine the 
wife of Robert Norton, gent., f Thomas Lowland and his wife, John Clerke 
and his wife, John Slater, Rachel Hartte, William Theakston and his wife, 

* This must be the " Unjust Steward." 
t See ante p. 286. 



552 MASH AM AND MASHAMSIIIRE. 

John Jackson of Rawmore, Thomas Matterson and his wife, Elizabeth 
Baker and Ann Pickering, presented for Popish Recusants and excommuni- 
cate persons. 

Christopher Johnson of Ilton, Roger Atkinson and his wife, Robert 
Warde and his wife, Marmaduke Atkinson, Roger Atkinson, junr., of Ash- 
head, Edward Ashe and his wife, Elizabeth Atkinson, Robert Jackson and 
his wife, John Kirkby and his wife, Marmaduke Kirkbie, Thomas Kinge and 

his wife, Lucas, widow, Elizabeth Kinge, Robert Theakston and his wife, 

William Kinge and his wife, Ann the wife of John Astwith, and John 
"Ward, for the like. 

At a Court held in Massam Church on the 19th 3fay, 1629, before Andrew 
Agar. 

Ann Sparke, for committing fornication with one Edward Johnson de- 
ceased. 

Robert Greaveson, and Beatrix Mankin, for the like. 

Isabella the wife of Christopher Danby, gent., John Winde, William 
Rawe, Robert Thwaites and Francis his son, Elizabeth the wife of William 
Baker, Jane the wife of John Slater, Thomas Gowland and his wife, John 
Adamson and his wife, John Clarke and his wife, Jo. Jackson, Thomas Mad- 
derson and his wife, Lucy Jackson widow, Barnard Jackson, Mabel the 
wife of George Clarke, Ellen Moore widow, Thomas Salrwick alias Gillam, 
Dorothy Clarke, widow, Robert Theakston and his wife, Elizabeth Atkin- 
son, spinster, Rich. Atkinson, and James Waite, gent., presented for Popish 
Recusants and excommunicate persons. 

Marmaduke Atkinson, Robert Warde, Richard Atkinson, junr., Edward 
Ashe and his wife, John Kirkbie and his wife, Robert Jackson and his wife, 
Lambert Ward and his wife, Thomas Hambleton and his wife, Marmaduke 
Kirkby and his wife, Thomas Kinge and his wife, Elizabeth Kinge, widow, 
Catherine Lofthouse, widow, Margaret the wife of Francis Lofthouse, Ann 
the wife of Jo. Askwith, Christopher Johnson, Elizabeth the wife of George 
Kinge, Dorothy Johnson, widow, for the like. 

At a Court held in Kirkby Malzeard Church on the 2<kth Nov. 1629, before 
Gilbert ITursman. 

Thomas Boddie and Frances Dodgson, for living together as man and 
wife, it being unknown whether they be married or not. — Dismissed. 

William Thwaites and his reputed wife, of Ellington, for being clandes- 
tinely married together. 

John Slater, and Margaret Adamson, for commiting fornication together. 
— Excommunicated. 

Thomas Beckwith of Aldbrough, and Jane Beckwith, for being unlaw- 
fully married together, being Cozen Germains. — marked " not cited." — 

Marmaduke Thompson of Masham, and Dorothy Pickersgill, for being 
clandestinely married together. 



APPENDIX. 553 

At a Court held at York Minster the \Zth May, 1631, before Andrew Agar, 

Thomas Fenton of Gowthwaite Park, presented long ago for commit- 
ting adultery with one Ellen Duffield. — Absolved. 

Robert Danby * of Massam, gent., and Thomas Thwaites of High. 
Ellington, for not receiving the holy communion at Easter last. 

Ann the wife of Edward Buckshaw, for living from her husband contrary 
to his mind. 

Marmaduke Smorthwaite of JNTutwith Cote, and Frances Dodgson his ser- 
vant, for fornication together. — Dismissed. 

William Holmes of Ellingstring, and Ann his reputed wife, for fornica- 
tion together before they were married, and for being married clandestinely, 
or for living together as man and wife unmarried. 

Elizabeth Cowper of Ellingstring, for working at hay on the sabbath 
day. 

Isabella the wife of Christopher Danby, gent., Margaret Watson, widow, 
Marjery Smorthwaite, spinster, Robert Thwaite, Alice Peake, spinster, and 
John Winde, of Massam, John Adamson and his wife, Thomas Gowland and 
his wife, William Theakston and his wife, John Slater, John Smith junr., 
John and Lambert Warde of Swinton, Roger Atkinson and his wife, 
Robert Ward and his wife, Edward Paley, batch elor, Marmaduke Atkinson, 
batchelor, Thomas Kinge and his wife, and Elizabeth Kinge, widow, of 
Moor-heads, presented for Recusants. 

Barnard Jackson, Lucy Jackson, widow, and Dorothy Clarke, spinster, 
of Healey, Elizabeth, the wife of Michael Bowes, and William Wintersgill, 
senr., of Fearby, William Cowper and his wife, and James Gleadston of 
Ellington, Thomas Madderson and his wife, William Baker and George 
Jackson, bachelor, of Romer, for the like. 

Thomas Jackson, for swearing and taking the name of God in vain in 
blasphemous manner. 

Christopher Wilson of Massam, for undecent and uncivil behaviour in the 
church. 

Sampson Walker and Margaret his wife, for harbouring one Margaret 
Ibbotson till she was delivered of a child, begotten in fornication by one 
Francis Topham of Cawdbergh, and suffering her to depart unpunished. 

At a Court held the 2±th May, 1631, before Gilbert Horsman. 

Christopher Beck with of Rawmore, for committing adultery with Elizh. 
Horsman. 

Ann Williamson, widow, for adultery by her committed with one Michael 
Archer of Kilgrame, in Witton parish. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Jackson, senr,, of Ellington, for a drunkard and vaine swearer. 

Francis Ripley, for sleeping in the church. 

At a Court held in Massam Church 12th June, 1632. 

Mark Smith of Healey, for teaching without license. 

* See ante page 266. 

QQ 



554 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

James Hunton and Jennett Walker, of Swinton, for living together as 
man and wife. 

Marjery Watson, widow, Francis Thwaites, Alice Peake, spinster, Mar- 
garet Smirthwaite, spinster, and John Winde, of Massam, for Recusants. 

John Adamson and Margaret his wife, and Margaret his daughter, John 

Smith, the wife of William Cowper, John Clarke and his wife, Thomas 

Gowland and his wife, Catherine Harker, widow, William Theakston and 
his wife, George Jackson, and the wife of William Baker of Swinton, pre- 
sented for the like. 

Dorothy Johnson, widow, Richard Atkinson and his wife, Richard Atkin- 
son the yr., Marmaduke Atkinson, Robert Warde and his wife, and Edward 
Paley of Ilton, for the like. 

Mabel the wife of George Clarke, Barnabas Jackson, Elizh. Kinge, 
widow, Thomas Kinge and his wife, of Healey, presented for the like. 

Robert Jackson and his wife of Healey, Elizh. the wife of Michael 
Bowes, and William Wintersgill and his wife, of Fearby, James Gleadston 
and his wife, Thomas Thwaites and his wife, of Ellington, and Thomas 
Madderson of Burton, presented for the like. 

At a Court held at Kirhby Malzeard Church the 2Qth March, 1633, hefore 
Gilbert Horsman. 

Leonard Beckwith of Pond, in the parish of Masham, and Ann Bird his 
reputed wife, for being clandestinely married together. 

At a Court held in 3Iassam Church on the 13th Sep. 1633, before Gilbert 
Horsman. 

Simon Hargrave and Ann Smorthwaite, of Ellington, widow, for forni- 
cation together. 

[N.B. — They proved that they were married at Middleham, on the 20th 
August, 1633]. 

William Jackson of Grimesgill, for harbouring a woman in his house 
who bore a child there begotten by one Beane of the parish of Hornby, a 
married man, and for suffering her to depart unpunished. 

Robert Hodgson of Fearby, for a common drunkard and swearer. 

Alice the wife of Christopher Cusse, of Massam, for a malicious slanderer. 

Magdalen the wife of Roger Banks, of Massam, for a common scould and 
a blasphemous swearer. 

The wife of Humphrey Baine of Somerfield, for not coming to church to 
give thanks for her safe deliverance in child birth. 

Marmaduke Smith of Healey, for standing excommunicate for teaching 
school without license, and for threatening not to come to church in prayer 
time. 

Matthew Baines and John Kettlewell, for carding two several Sabbath 
days. 

John Harrison of Massam, and Robert Walton of the same place, for 
suffering them to play in their houses said days respectively. 



APPENDIX. 555 

Francis Warde and Alice Walton, of Moorlands, for living together as 
man and wife, and being unlawfully married. 

Marjery Watson, widow, Alice Peake, John Wynde and Elizh. his wife, 
George Kinge of Massam, presented for Recusants. 

Elizabeth the wife of Michael Bowes, William Wintersgill and Isabella 
his wife, of Fearby, for the like. 

Thomas Thwaites, James Gleadston and his wife, of Ellington, for the 
like. 

Jane * Wivell, widow, Phillipa f Wivell, Margaret Danby, Alice Wrand, 
William % Wivell, Robert Mitchell, Francis Thwaite, Dorothy Thrackwray, 
Thomas Madderson and his wife, of the Village of Burton, presented for the 
like. 

John Adam son and his wife, Margaret Adamson his daughter, Thomas 
Gowland and his wife, John Clarke and his wife, Ann the wife of William 
Cowper, William Theakston and his wife, George Jackson and his reputed 
wife, Thomas Harrison and Catherine Harbert his reputed wife, Ann Gow- 
land, Dorothy Brunton, Jo. Smith, Elizabeth the wife of William Baker, 
and the wife of John Slater of Swinton, for the like. 

Dorothy Johnson, widow, Richard Atkinson and his wife, Richard 
Atkinson, junr., Marmaduke Atkinson, Ellen Atkinson, Robert Warde and 
his wife, Lambert Warde and his wife, Francis Warde and Alice Walton 
his reputed wife, Edward Paley and his wife, Robert Jackson and his wife, 
Thomas Kinge and his wife, Elizabeth Kinge widow, and Magdalen Jack- 
son spinster, of Ilton and Moorheads, presented for the like. 

Mabel Clarke, widow, Jane Clarke, Barnabas Jackson, Dorothy Clarke, 
Robert Theakston and his wife, and Ann the wife of John Askwith of Hea- 
ley, presented the 27th Aug. 1633, all for the like Recusants. 

At a Court held in Kirkby Malzeard Church the l%th Dec. 1634, before Gil- 
bert Horsman. 

William Williamson and Margaret Hammond of High Ellington, for 
living together as man and wife, not known whether they be married or no. 

[N.B. — They proved that they were really married]. 

John Chambers of Ellingstriug and Dorothy his wife, for living asunder. — 
Excommunicated. 

Edward Beckshaw and Ann his wife, for the like. 

Nicholas Bridgewater of Fearby, for a malicious reviler and a contentious 
person. 

William Williamson of High Ellington, and Jane the wife of Henry 
Thompson of Ellingstring, for suspicion and adultery together. 

John Husband and Elizabeth his wife, of Massam, for fornication before 
marriage. 

* She was the widow of Christopher "Wyvill of Little or Low Burton. 

t She was the youngest daughter of Jane Wyvil, above mentioned, and was afterwards the 
wife of Richard Sale. 

% He was the son of Jane "Wyvill above mentioned. 



556 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

William Awton and Margaret his wife, for the like. 

William Wintersgill of Massam, for being disobedient to parents, and 
also a blasphemous swearer and drunkard. 

Robert Boddie, Robert Watson, junr., Robert Greenson, Robert Walton, 
Richard Johnson, Ghristopher Waggett, Christopher Beckwith of Massam, 
for not paying their 'sessment to the church. — William Gray, John Lucas, 

Christopher Rainger, John Awton, Cowper widow of Swinton, for the 

like. — Thomas Rainder, Margaret Parker widow, Robert Atkinson, Thomas 
Kinge and Isabella Kinge widow, of Ellington, for the like. 

Anthony Robinson, for working on the Sunday, in time of divine 
service. 

The wife of George King, Alice Peake spinster, of Massam, Jane Wivell 
widow, John Wharton gent, and Catherine his wife, William Wivell, Robt. 
Mitchell, Francis Thwaites, Margaret Danbie, William Staveley, Ann Jack- 
son, Ann Madderson widow, of Burton, presented for Recusants. 

Dorothy Brunton widow, John Adamson and his wife, William Theakston 
and his wife, John Smith, John Clarke and his wife, the wife of Thomas 
Gowland, Ann Norton, Dorothy Ward widow, William Baker, John Adam- 
son of Swinton, for the like. 

Dorothy Johnson widow, Marmaduke Atkinson, Robert Ward and his 

wife, Richard Atkinson, Atkinson widow, Ellen Atkinson, the wife 

of Humphrey Baine, Maria the wife of Peter Hanley, Robert Jackson, 
Peter de Pott, Edward Paley and his wife, Lambert Warde and his wife, 
of Ilton and Moorheads, for the like. 

Francis Warde and his wife, and Kinge widow, for the like. 

Mabel Clarke, Robert Theakston and Ann his wife, Barnabas Jackson of 
Healey, William Vrintersgill and his wife, Elizabeth the wife of Michael 
Bowes, and James Gleadson of Ellington, for the like. 

Christopher Mankin, for fornication with Dorothy Chambers. 

Thomas Theakston, for fighting and brawling in the church. 

Francis Lambert of Ilton, and Bridget Hey wood of the parish of Kirkby 
Malzeard, for a clandestine marriage. 

Thomas Ascough and Elizabeth Hutchinson his reputed wife, of the Par- 
ish of Massam, for a clandestine marriage. — Excommunicated. 

Lancelot Edon [of Kirkby Malzeard Parish], for kneelinge at the Cross, * 
in the way as they carried a goast to the church, notwithstanding he was 
wished by John Buckle to forbeare the same. — Excommunicated, afterwards 
dismissed. 

At a Court held in Kirkby '-Malzeard Church 13th of May, 1635, before 
Gilbert Horsman. 

John Winde, Alice Peake, Elizh. the wife of George Kinge, and Barna- 
bas Jackson of Massam, presented for Recusants. 

John Adamson and his wife, Margaret his daughter, John Smith, George 
Jackson and his wife, William Theakston and his wife, for the like. 

See note ante. 



APPENDIX. 557 

Ann Gowland, Mary Gowland widow, John Clarke and his wife, Ann 
Norton, the wife of John Slater, Elizh. the wife of William Baker, Ann 
Pickering, Ann Madderson widow of Swinton, for the like. 

Robt. Wood and his wife, Marmaduke Atkinson, Richard Atkinson, 

Atkinson widow, Lambert Wayd and his wife, Francis Wayd and his 

reputed wife, Elizh. Kinge widow, Thomas King and his wife, Robert 
Jackson, Robert Theakston, Marjery Clarke, Edward Paley and his wife, 
Peter Pott of Moorheads, for the like. 

James Gleadston and his wife, Thomas Thwaites of Ellington, William 
Wintersgill and his wife, the wife of Michael Bowes of Fearby, Jane Wy veil 
widow, Margaret Danbie, Catherine the wife of Wharton, Robt. Mit- 
chell, Alice Wray, Lucy the wife of Anthony Thwaites, John Wharton, gent., 
Francis Thwaites of Low Burton, for the like. 

Dorothy Awton of Swinton, and Alexander Thwaite of Swinton, for com- 
mitting fornication together. 

John Judson and Margaret the wife of Robert Jackson, upon a common 
voice and fame of committing adultery together. 

Thomas Allanson of Ilton, and Margaret the daughter of Anthony Hors- 
man of Ilton, for standing excommunicate these three years last past for 
committing fornication, and have not done their penance. 

Thomas Watson of Swinton, and John Reanger, for being at an unlawful 
marriage of James Hunton of Swinton, and Jannet Walker, her former hus- 
band being yet living. 

James Hunton and Jannet Walker, for marrying together, the husband 
of the said Jannet Walker being yet alive. 

Isabella Milner of Swinton, widow, for harbouring of Dorothy Aughton 
spinster, and suffering her to bear a child in her house, begotten in her 
house, begotten in fornication, and suffering her to depart unpunished. 

The churchwardens, for not seeing that the statute, by which there is 
xiie?. forfeited for everie one that is absent from the church, is put in opera- 
tion. 

At a Court held the 2nd December, 1635. 

John Wharton of Low Burton, George Jackson of Swinton, Robert Wood 
of Moorheads, Francis Wayd of Moorheads, Recusants, for not bringing or 
causing to be brought, their children to be baptized at their parish church. 

Thomas Gray, for positively refusing to come to the church to be in- 
structed in the catechism. 

Edward Buckshaw and Ann his wife of Massam, living asunder contrary 
to law, and for standing excommunicate. 

Anthonie Boddie of High Ellington, for a blasphemous swearer. 

Margaret Gray of Massam, spinster, for committing fornication, as she 
saith, with Christopher Dodsworth of the Low Maines, bachelor. 

Ann Gill of Moorheads, for committing fornication, as she saith, with 
Thomas Imeson of York. 

William Wintersgill and Jane his wife, for common suspicion of fornica- 
tion before they were married. 



558 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

William Gray and Edward Mitchell of Massain, Thomas Kinder, Robt. 
Atkinson, Robert Dickenson, William Cowper, Matthew Thwaites of Elling- 
ton, Thomas Askwith, William Browne of Ilton, and John Scowthorpe of 
the same place, for not paying their 'sessments. 

Thomas Askwith, Thomas Foster and James Gleadston of Ellingstring, 
Lambert Wayd and Humphrey Toller of Healey, Christopher Lodge of Mas- 
sam, for the Corne-milne of Swinton, Jo. Lucas of Massam, for the cloth 
mill in Swinton, and John Clarke, for not paying their 'sessments. 

Elizh. the wife of George Kinge, John Winde, Alice Peake 'spinster, 
Ruth the wife of Stephen Wintersgill, Barnabas Jackson of Massam, Jane 
Wyvell widow, Edward Wyvell, Margaret Danby singlewoman, Robert 
Mitchell and Alice Wray his reputed wife, Francis Thwaites batchelor, 
Ellen Horsman, Jo. Wharton gent, and Catherine his wife, Lucy the wife of 
Anthony Thwaites, presented for Recusants. 

John Adamson and Margaret his wife, Anthony his son and Margaret 
his daughter, John Smith, George Jackson and William Theakston and his 

wife, Gowland widow, John Clark arid his wife of Swinton, Elizh. the 

wife of William Baker, Ann Pickering spinster, Ann Matterson widow, 
Thomas Harrison and Catherine his wife, of AVardermarske, for Recusants. 

Robt. Wood and his wife, Marmaduke Atkinson, Richard Atkinson, 

Atkinson widow, the wife of Humphrey Baine, Francis Wayd and his wife, 
Dorothy Johnson of Ilton, widow, Peter Barker, Edward Ry ley and his wife, 
Robert Beck of Healey and his wife, Elizh. the wife of Michael Bowes, 
Mabel Clarke widow, William Wintersgill and his wife, of Fearby, James 
Gleadston and his wife, Thomas Thwaites, for the like. 

John Nelson of Ellingstring, for living with his reputed wife, but 
whether they be married or no it is not known. 

At a Court held in Massam Church on the 12th of April, 1636, before 
Edward Waikinson, LL.D. 

Thomas Hodgson curate, and Marmaduke Miller, Francis Howe, Thomas 
Buckell, and Francis Theakstone, churchwardens of Massam, for not having 
their churchyard wall in so good repair as it ought to be, as likewise for not 
having a poor's man's box, and for not making their stalls uniform. 

John Wharton of Low Burton, gent., Recusant, for not suffering three of 
his children, born in the parish of Massam, to be brought to the church to be 
baptized. 

Robt. Mitchell of Low Burton, George Jackson of Swinton, Robert Wood 
of Moorheads, Francis Wayd of Moorheads, Robert Jackson of Sowermyre, 
for the like. 

Margaret the wife of Christopher Johnson of Ilton, for stubborn refusal 
to live with her husband. 

Edward Mankin and Ann the daughter of Robert Plewes, of Sutton, for 
committing fornication together. 

Christopher Doddesworth of Low Maines, and Margaret the daughter of 
William Gray of Massam, for committing fornication together. 



APPENDIX. 559 

Anthony Boddie of High Ellington, for a blasphemous swearer. 

John Wind, Elizabeth the wife of George Kinge, Catherine the wife of 
Stephen Wintersgill, Barnabas Jackson, Dorothy Jackson, and Dorothy 
Jackson of Massam, John Wharton gent., and Catherine his wife, R.obert 
Mitchell and Alice his wife, Lucy the wife of Anthony Thwaites of Burton, 
Jo. Adamson and Margaret his wife and Anthony his son, and Margaret 
the daughter of William Theakston and his wife, John Clarke and his 
wife, Gowland widow, Elizabeth the wife of William Baker, Ann Pick- 
ering, Thomas Harrison and Katherine his wife, presented for Popish 
Recusants. 

Robert Wood and his wife, Richard Atkinson, Marmaduke Atkinson, 

Atkinson widow, the wife of Humphrey Baine, Lambert Wayd and 

his wife, Francis Wayd and Alice his wife, Robert Jackson, Peter de 

Leighton (cognomen unknown), Edward Paley and his wife, the wife of 

William Kinge of Moorheads, Robert Theakston and his wife of Healey, 
William Wintersgill and his wife, Elizabeth the wife of Michael Bowes of 
Fearby, James Gleadston and his wife, Thomas Thwaites of Ellington, for 
the like. 

Robert Boddie, William Gray, Edward Mitchell, Richard Beckwith, 
John Beckwith, Richard Bridgewater, Christopher Beckwith, and Robert 
Topham, of Massam, for refusing to pay their 'sessments. 

Christopher Lodge of Massam, for not paying his 'sessment of Swinton 
Corn-mill, John Lucas of Massam, for the Walke-mill at Swinton, William 

Theakston, John Clarke, 'Hodgson widow, Theakston widow, John 

Awton of Swinton, for not paying their 'sessment. 

William Horner, Ann Scott, Christopher Kinge, Janet Johnson widow, 
William Cowper, William Gleadston, Richard Boddie, Robert Atkinson, and 

Williamson, Margaret Williamson widow, Thomas Jackson, Robert 

Dickenson, Christopher Dickenson of the City of York, George Dickenson 
and Thomas Runder of Ellington, for the like. 

John Ebden of Ellingstring, for suspicion of incest with his wife's sister 
about Christmas last, he being found " Solus cu sola nudus cu nuda." — not 
cited. 

At a Court held the 9th May, 1637, before Edward Watkinson, LL.D. 

Page, for teaching schollars at Healey, without license. 

George Haxwell of Wardermaske and Elizabeth Johnson of Ilton, 
spinster, for suspicion of fornication or adultery together, for they were 
watched into an out-house in the fields at an unlawful time in the night. 

Richard Harrison of Massam, and Jane Pattrick, upon common voice and 
fame of committing adultery together. 

William Mankin of Sutton, and Alice his wife, for committing fornication 
before they were married. 

William Gray, Edward Mitchell, Robert Beckwith, Christopher Kinge, 
Jannet Johnson, William Cowper, Ralph Durham, William Gleadston, 
Richard Boddie, Robt. Atkinson and William Williamson, Thomas Jackson, 



560 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Thomas Rynder, Christopher Lodge, John Lucas, Jo. Clarke, the "wife 

of Hodgson, Robert Bennett, Margaret Walker, Thomas Morris, Robert 

Jackson, Thomas Smurthwaite, Lucy , Christopher Morley, John Bowes, 

the wife of Hodgson, the wife of Theakston, Richard Boddie, Robt. 

Atkinson, Thomas Jackson, James Gleadston and John his son, for detaining 
their 'sessments. 

Jo. Hebden and his wife, for bearing manure on the Sunday to manure 
their ground. 

Robt. Smurthwaite of Nutwith Cote, for fornication with Anne Bar- 
nistone, of the same. 

Thomas Hanley, for committing fornication or adultery with Alice Scott, 
wife of Robt. Scott of Brearey Bank. 

George Theakston of Pickersgill, for committing fornication or adultery 
with the said Alice Scott. 

Gilbert Horseman vicar, for not haveing the vicarage house in sufficient 
repaire, and for not readinge the Book of Canons yearly — for not wearinge 
a hood — for not publishing his Majesty's Proclamation. — Promised to be 
done. 

Gilbert Horseman, clerk parochial, for reading prayers, and takeing upon 
him the office of a curate without authoritie or any lawfull licence or dis- 
pensation in that behalf obtained. — Suspended, but afterwards restored* 

At a Court held the 20th March, 1637. 

Gilbert Horseman, vicar of Kirkby Malzeard, for not reading prayers 
upon the eves of Sundays and Holy days — for not reading the Letany and 
other prayers upon Wednesdays and Fridays. 

Gilbert Horseman and Francis Ripley, for not tolling the bell for 
prayers upon Wednesdays and Fridays. — Excommunicated. 

At a Court held in Kirkby Malzeard Church the 12th Sep. 1637, before 
Edward Watkinson, L L.D. 

William Browne of Ilton, gent., for refusing to pay two several 'sessments 
for the repair of the church, which amounted to the sum of 3s. 6d. — Ex- 
communicated. 

John Hodgson of Massam, fcr a blasphemous swearer, and after reproof 
of the same did still continue and refused to be admonished. 

Robert Hodgson, for a common drunkard and profaner of the sabbath. — 
Excommunicated. 

The same Robert Hodgson, for fornication with Jane Carter — Excom- 
municated. 

William Kinge of Sowermire, for a negligent comer to his parish church. 
— Excommunicated. 

John Cooke, and Alice Chapman, for comman drunkards. 

John Wind, Alice Peake spinster, Elizabeth the wife of George Kinge, 
Catherine the wife of Stephen Wintersgill, Barnabas Jackson and Dorothy 
Jackson of Massam, for Popish Recusants.-— Excommunicated. 



APPENDIX. 561 

Jane Wyvell widow, Arm Williamson spinster, Catherine Wharton, gent., 
Henry Atkinson, Lucy the wife of Anthony Thwaites of Burton Township, 
Popish Rec usan ts. — Excommunicated. 

John Dawson and Margaret his wife, Margaret Adamson spinster, 
Anthony Adamson, William Theakston and his wife, John Clarke and his 
wife, George Jackson and his wife, Thomas Harrison and his wife, John 
Smith and his wife, Ann Gowland, Peter Petche and Elizabeth his wife, 
William Baker of Swinton, for popish Recusants Excommunicated. 

Humphrey Towler and his wife, Lambert Wayd and his wife, Francis 

Wayd and Alice his wife, Atkinson widow, Richard Atkinson, Robert 

Ward and his wife, Marmaduke Atkinson, Peter Leighton, Robert Jackson 
and his wife, Kinge widow of Moorheads, for Popish Recusants. — Ex- 
communicated. 

Thomas Thwaites, Robert Jackson and his wife of Healey, for Popish 
Recusants. — Excommunicated. 

William Wintersgill and his wife, and Elizabeth Bowes the wife of 
Michael Bowes of Fearby, Popish Recusants. — Excommunicated. 

James Gleadston of Ellington, for a Popish Recusant. — Excommunicated. 

Christopher Pickersgill, Thomas Bridgewater, Ralph Horseman and Jo. 
Turner churchwardens of Massam, for neglecting to present Robert Hodgson, 

for committing fornication with also William King of Sowermire, for 

a negligent comer to his parish church. 

At a Court held at York Minster the 16th Nov. 1637, before E. Burton. 

Gilbert Horseman, for not having the vicarage house in sufficient repairs, 
and for not reading the Book of Canons yearly, for not wearing a hood, for 
not publishing His Majesty's Declaration. — The Judge adjudged " The said 
Mr. Horsman to certify the supply of these defects, fyc" 

At a Court held at York Minster the 2tth Nov. 1637, before E. Burton. 

Sentence of suspence was pronounced against Mr. Horseman on the above 
presentment. 

At a Court held at Massam Church the 20th March, 1638, before E. Burton. 

Thomas Hodgson curate, Christopher Pickersgill, Thomas Bridgwater, 
Ralph Horsman and John Turner, churchwardens of Masssam, for not 
having a covering of silk or other convenient staff for the communion table, 
and for wanting a pott of pewter or purer metal for the wine upon the com- 
munion table. 

Mark Smith of Fearby, for teaching schollars without a licence. 

Thomas Slaiter, schoolmaster at Ellingstring, for teaching scholars with- 
out a licence, and for standing excommunicate. 

Elizabeth Atkinson of High Ellington, for living from her husband. 

Robert Hodgson of Fearby, for fornication with his wife before marriage. 

Edward Williamson and Frances Masterman, for committing fornication 
together. 

RR 



562 



MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



Thomas King of Ellington, and Jane the wife of George Dickenson, for 
a common voice and fame of committing adultery together. 

Robert Theakston of Massam, and Beatrix Mankin, for committing 
adultery together, and for standing excommunicate five years. 

John Smith of Swinton, and Francis Wayd of Moorheads, Popish Recu- 
sants, and for having divers children christened with a Popish Priest. 

Margaret Adamson the wife of John Adamson, of Swinton, for looking 
[weeding] of corne on the Sabbath-day in summer last ; she being rebuked 
for so doing, answered she was better employed than they that went to 
church to pray. 

Ellen Horner of Low Ellington, and Thomas Place, for having taken 
possession of, and occupied the chapel at High Ellington. 

Christopher Hanley of Eshe-head, and Isabella King his reputed wife, for 
being clandestinely married together. 

At a Court held in Kirkby Maheard Church the 9th October, 1638, before 
Richard Darnton, M.A. 

Thomas Hodgson curate, and Jo. Marshall, "William Smith, Tho. Ward 
and George Thwaites, churchwardens of Massam, for not making the stalls 
uniform in the body of the church, and those places flagged which are 
awanting — for not providing a cloth of green with silk fringe for the com- 
munion table, as also a pott or flaggin of pewter for wine when there is a 
communion. 

Anthony Jackson, for absenting himself on the Lord's-day from the 
church, and after being admonished by the churchwardens did refuse to 
come. — Excommunicated. 

Edward Paley and his wife, Charles Younge, Robert Theakston, 

the wife of Humphrey Bayne, Eliz. Bell, Thexton widow, William 

Wintersgill senr. and his wife, William Wintersgill junr., and Mabel Clarke 
widow, for Popish Recusants. — Excommunicated. 

John Hawton of Fearby and the wife of Seth Wrigglesworth, for 

committing the crime of adultery together Excommunicated. 

At a Court held in Massam Church on the last day of February, 1638, 
before Henry Feme, M.A. 

George Askwith and Frances Slater, the daughter of Thomas Slaiter of 
Ellin gstringe, for committing fornication together. — Excommunicated. 

Richard Johnson and Marjery Johnson, widow, for committing fornication 
together. — Dismissed. 

Thomas Shaw and Margaret Smorthwaite, the daughter of Robert 
Smorthwaite of Healey, for committing fornication together. — Excom- 
municated. 

Robert Dawson and Ann Awton alias Dawson, for living together in 
incontinence. — Dismissed. 

John Marshall, churchwarden of the parish of Massam, for profaning the 
Sabbath-day in time of divine service, and suffering his servants to the mill 
for corn upon Candlemas-day. — Dismissed. 



APPENDIX. 563 

John Lofthouse, for grinding of corn upon Candlemas-day last. 

Christopher Watson and Maria Atkinson, for committing fornication 
together. — Excommunicated. 

John Wharton gent., and Catherine his wife, George Jackson, Francis 
Wayd and Robt. Wayd, for not having their children baptized at their 
parish church. — Excommunicated. 

Christopher "Ward of Massam, for not paying of five several 'sessments 
to the church, which amount to the sum of 5s. 3d. — Excommunicated. 

Dorothy the wife of James Dodsworth, for not paying his 'sessment to 
,the church, which is Id.- — Dismissed. 

George Hawkeswell of Wardesmaske, for not paying his 'sessment in 
Massam, amounting to the sum of 8d. 

The same George Hawkswell, for not paying his 'sessment in Swinton, 
amounting to the sum of Is. 8d. 

Thomas Smorthvvaite, for not paying 2d. for his 'sessment. — Excommuni- 
cated. 

Robt. Atkinson, for not paying his 'sessment to the church, amounting to 
2s. 4c?. — Excommunicated. 

William Browne, for not paying his 'sessment to the church, for Elling- 
string, amounting to 4d. — Excommunicated. 

The said William Browne, for not paying his 'sessment for II ton, 
amounting to 2s. Id. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Foster, for not paying his 'sessment, being 3d. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Theakston, for not paying his 'sessment, being lid. — Dismissed. 

Wm. Ripley, for not paying his 'sessment, being 10c?. — Do. 

John Watson, for not paying his 'sessment, being 4d. — Do. 

Robt. Atkinson, for not paying his 'sessment, being 2s. 4c?. — Do. 

Ralph Durham, for not paying his 'sessment, being 7c?. — Do. 

Thos. Rimder, for not paying his 'sessment, being 4s. 2d, — Excommuni- 
cated. 

Robt. Bennett, for not paying his 'sessment, being 3s. Sd. — Excommuni- 
cated. 

Thos. Norris, for not paying his 'sessment, being 7c?. — Excommunicated. 

Robt. Jackson, for not paying his 'sessment, being 22c?. — Excommuni- 
cated. 

Humphrey Towler, for not paying his 'sessment, being 22c?. — Excommu- 
nicated. 

Lambert Wayd, for not paying his 'sessment, being 15c?. — Excommuni- 
cated. 

Wm. Atkinson, for not paying his 'sessment, being, 5s. 4c?. — Excommuni- 
cated. 

John Awton, for not paying his 'sessment, being 5d. — Dismissed. 

John Lofthouse, for not paying his 'sessment, being 4s. 10c?., for Swinton 
mill. — Excommunicated. 

John Lucas, for not paying his 'sessment, being 2s. 5d., for the Walk- 
mill. — Excommunicated. 



564 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Jane the daughter of Marjery Slaiter, for committing the crime of for- 
nication. — Excommunicated. 

At a Court held the 9th October, 1638. 

Frances Walker wife of Francis Walker, of Grewelthorpe, for assumeing 
to herselfe that she could tell of goods that were lost, and using such like 
unlawful inchantment. * 

At a Court held in Kirkby-3Iaheard Church the 3rd Sep. 1639, before 
John Sagg, 31. A. [curate there']. 

John Marshall, Win. Smith, Thomas Wardle, and George Thwaites, 
churchwardens of the church of Massam, for not making their present ac- 
counts of office. — Dismissed. 

John Scott and Jane Smith, for committing fornication together. — Ex- 
communicated. 

Ann Williamson the wife of Lawrence Williamson, for not receiving the 
holy communion at Easter last. — Excommunicated. 

Ann Ollithorne of Massam, for committing the crime of adultery with 
Anthony Fawber. 

Christopher Walker and Margaret Awton, for committing the crime of 
fornication together before marriage. — Dismissed. 

Robert Fisher, for hedging upon the sabbath-day, and mending of shoes. 
— Dismissed. 

Robt. Pickersgill and Ann Ollithorne, for living in fornication together. 
— Dismissed. 

John Wind, Elizabeth the wife of George King, Stephen Wintersgill 
and Catherine his wife, and Alice Peake, of Massam, for Popish Recusants. 
— Excommunicated. 

John Adamson and his wife, John Smith and his wife Theakstone 

widow, Clarke widow, Ann Norton gen., Isabella Watson, and 

Hodgson *vidow, Elizabeth the wife of William Baker, George Jackson and 
his wife, of Svvinton, for Popish Recusants. — Excommunicated. 

Magdalen Jackson, Atkinson widow, Marmaduke Atkinson, Lam- 
bert Wayd and his wife, Francis Wayd and his wife, Robert Jackson and 
his wife, Elizh. King widow, of Ilton and Moorheads, for Popish Recusants. 
— Excommunicated. 

* This district was at this time much troubled with persons assuming to be "wise-men" and 
" wise-women." Their wisdom, however, consisted solely in getting as much money as they 
could out of the poor deluded creatures who where so silly as to require their aid. Anne Greene, 
one of this fraternity, was brought before the magistrates on a charge of witchcraft, when she 
made the following defence, which I copy from Mr. Raine's " Depositions, &c, from York Castle." 
— " Anne Greene saiththat she sometimes useth a charme for cureing the heart-ache, and used 
itt twice in one night unto John Tatterson of Gargreave, by crosseing a garter over his eare and 
sayeing these words ' Boate, a God's name ' 9 times over. Likewise for paines in the head, she 
requires the water and a locke of their heire, the which she boyles together, and afterwards 
throwes them in the fire and burnes them ; and meddles not with any other diseases." Her mo- 
dus operandi although certainly somewhat complicated, could not be otherwise than harmless. 
In 1656, William and Mary Wade of Studley, were prosecuted for witchcraft practiced by them 
upon Miss Elizabeth Mallory of Studley -hall, near Ripon. 



APPENDIX. 565 

Elizabeth, the wife of Michael Bowes, Wm. Wintersgill and his wife, of 
Fearby. and James Gleadston of Ellington, for Popish Recusants. — Excom- 
municated. 

Jane Wyvell widow, Catherine the wife of John "Wharton gent., Henry 
Atkinson, Lucy the wife of Anthony Thwaites of Burton-upon-Yore, for 
Popish Recusants. — Excommunicated. 

George Theakston of Pickersgill, for a negligent comer to his parish, 
church. — Excommunicated. 

William Johnson of Healaugh, for working at hay upon St. James' day 
at the time of Divine service, and being rebuked for the same, said he was 
better employed than they that were at church. — Dismissed. 

John Hanley and his wife, of Moorheads, for negligent comers to their 
parish church. — Excommunicated. 

George Gibson and his wife, for washing of clothes upon the Lord's-day. 
— Dismissed. 

Thomas Jackson of Ellingstring, for keeping unlawful company in his 
house on the Lord's-day. — Excommunicated. 

Robert Render of Ellingstring, for a negligent comer to his parish 
church. — Dismissed. 

At a Court held the 3rd Sep. 1639, at Kirkby-Malzeard, before Mr. Sagge. 

Robert Barker, at Coulthouse, for harbouring of Mr. Boyes, a popish 
priest. — Excommunicated. 

Ann Gill widow, and Elizabeth the wife of George Frear, for resorting to 
the said Boyes. — Excommunicated. 

At a Court held in Kirkby-Malzeard Church on the \Qth Dec. 1639. 

Robt. Awton, Thos. Kilburne, churchwardens of Masham, for not finish- 
ing the churchyard wall of Masham. 

Brian Clarke alias Ripley, for teaching school without a license. 

Jane Robinson, for working on the sabbath-day. — Excommunicated. 

Ellen Moore, for absenting herself from her parish church upon Sundays 
and holidays. — Excommunicated. 

Richard Kendall and Margaret Horseman, for a fame of fornication 
together. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Runder, Robt. Atkinson, Robt. Williamson, John Tooler, Ralph 
Brandsby, Thomas Ryder, and Robt. Watson, for not paying their monies 
for bread and wine, being 4c?. a year. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Norris, for not paying his 'sessment for the parish church. — Ex- 
communicated. 

Humphrey Tooler, for not paying his 'sessment. — Excommunicated. 

Henry Watson, for not paying his 'sessment, being od. — Satisfied the 
churchwardens. 

Wm. Wintersgill, for not paying his 'sessment. — Excommunicated. 

Ann Hodgson widow, of Swinton, for not paying her 'sessment. — Excom- 
municated. 






566 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Thos. Tan field, for not paying his 'sessment. — Excommunicated. 

Win. Browne, for not paying his 'sessment. — Excommunicated. 

John Binckes, for not paying his 'sessment. — Excommunicated. 

■ Bennett widow, for not paying her 'sessment. — Excommunicated. 

William Gray, for not paying his 'sessment. — Excommunicated. 

Ralph King and his wife, of Potts, and Simon Hanley of the same place, 
for not receiving the holy communion thrice in the year, and for negligent 
comers to their parish church. — Dismissed. 

Richard Hanley of Moorheads, Thomas Ballan of Ellingstring, and Wil- 
liam Johnson of Healaugh, for not receiving the holy communion thrice 
every year, and for negligent comers to the church. — Dismissed as to Han- 
ley, and Johnson and Ballan excommunicated. 

John Ringer of Swinton, for carrying cloth usually on the Lord's-day, in 
time of Divine service. — Excommunicated. 

Francis Fawber of Kirkby-Malzeard, for committing adultery with 
Phillis Fothergill. 

Janet Burniston [of Kirkby-Malzeard parish], for carrying a dead man's 
skull out of the churchyard, and laying it under Christopher Head, thinkeing 
therewith to charme him asleep. —The Judge in dismissing her "admonished 
her to bring the said skull into the churchyard again." 

At a Court held in Massam Church YSth May, 1640, before John Sage, M.A. 

Roger Danby, and Ann Norton his reputed wife, for being unlawfully 
married together. — Excommunicated. 

William Porter, Thomas Harrison, and William Ripley, the church- 
wardens of Massam, for not exhibiting their Registers of christenings, wed- 
dings, and burials within the said parish. — Dismissed. 

John Chambers and Dorothy Bennett, for being unlawfully married 
together. — Excommunicated. 

William King and Lucy Watson, for a fame of committing the crime of 
fornication together. — Excommunicated. 

Francis Dickenson of Ellington, for selling the bell belonging to the cha- 
pel of Ellington, and other ornaments, and for a negligent comer to the 
church. — Excommunicated. 

John Cornforth of Ellington, for not providing bread and drink for the 
perambulation, according to custom. — Excommunicated. 

Marmaduke Loftus [of Kirkby-Malzeard parish], for making water 
against the churchyard. — Excommunicated. 

At a Court held in Kirkby-Malzeard Church the 12th Dec. 1Q4:0, before 
Win. Loe, B.D. 

Robert Jackson, for not christening his child at his parish church. — Ex- 
communicated. 

John Wharton, for not christening his child at his parish church. — Ex- 
communicated. 

Christopher Hebden, for walling on the sabbath day. — Excommunicated. 



■H 



APPENDIX. 567 

Robt. Punder, for not coming to church monthly. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Norris, for not paying his 'sessment. — Excommunicated. 

Peter Toller, for not paying his 'sessment. — Excommunicated. 

Lambert Wayd, Robert Jackson, Ann Hodgson, John Chambers, Wil- 
liam Browne, Thomas Punder, Robert Atkinson, and Thomas Jackson, for 
not paying their caste or 'sessment. — Excommunicated. 

William Browne, Thomas Norris, Thomas Punder, John Toller, William 
Wintersgill, Ann Hodgson, John Chambers and his wife, Jane Robinson, 
Robt. Williamson, Lambert Wayd, Francis Wayd, John Bincke, and John 
Ringer, for standing excommunicate. — Excommunicated. 

Leonard Walker and Joana Fawconbridge, for fornication. — Joana Faw- 
conbridge excommunicated. 

At a Court held at Kirkby-Malzeard Church the 8th June, 1641, before 
John Sage, M.A. 

Thomas Foster, for not paying his 'sessment for bread and wine, being 
4 d. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Burrall, for not paying his 'sessment for bread and wine, being 
4c?. — Excommunicated. 

Thomas Smurthwaite, for not paying his 'sessment for bread and wine, 
being 4c?. — Excommunicated. 

Jane Robinson, Thomas Punder of High Ellington, Robt. Atkinson, 
Robt. Williamson, John Toller, Ann Hodgson, and John Bincke, for 
standing excommunicate. — Excommunicated. 

Stephen Wintersgill and Catherine his wife, of Massam, John Wynd, 
Alice Peake, William Wintersgill and Isabella his wife, Elizabeth the wife 
of Michael Bowes, Edward Ryley and his wife, Robert Theakston and Ann 
his wife, Francis Wayd and Alice his wife, Robert Jackson and his wife, 
Robt. Scott and his wife, Maria the wife of Charles Younge, William 

Kinge, James Gleadston and his wife, Robt. Ward and his wife, the 

wife of Humphrey Bayne, Elizabeth Atkinson widow, ■ Walker, John 

Smith, his wife and son, Ann Theakston, Simon Pickersgill and Ann his 
wife, of Swinton, John Ringer, the wife of Thomas Watson, John Adamson 
and his wife, Anthony Adamson, John Adamson, Henry Adamson, Mar- 
garet Adamson, Richard Adamson, Widow Milnes, Maria Gowland, Thomas 
Harrison and his wife, of Rowmore, George Jackson and his wife, Agnes 
Clarke, Widow Wood, Jane Wyvell, Henry Atkinson, Ellen Horseman, 
Ellen Morley, Ann Elley, Lucy the wife of Anthony Thwaites and Beatrix 
their daughter, John Aiscough, Lambert Waid and his wife and their 
daughter, Anthony Waid, the wife of William Kinge, for Popish Recusants. 
— Excommunicated. 

At a Court held in Massam Church on the 15th Dec. 1641, before John 
Sage, M.A. 

The wife of William Kinge of Sowermire, for a Popish Recusant. * 

* The following additional list of Popish Eecusants within the parish of Masham, is taken 
from Mr. Raine's " Depositions from York Castle," which he says, in a note, are made from lists 



568 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Lambert Waid, for not paying his 'sessment, being Gd. 

Robert Scott of Ellington, for not paying his 'sessment, being Gd. 

Thomas Wilson, Thomas Gillam, Peter Toller, Francis Lofthouse, Fran- 
cis Glewe, Thomas Allan, and Robert Scott, for not paying their 'sessments 
and keeping 'sessments in their hands. 

At a Court held in Massam Church on the 15th Oct. 1688, before 
Benjamin Broione, Vicar of Kirkby-Malzeard, official, 8fc. 

[There are no entries of any business done at this or at any subsequent 
Court]. 

prepared by the village Constables and forwarded to York. It will be seen that tbese lists are 
subsequent in point of date to those mentioned above. 

" March 25th, 1664. — I/ton cum Pottoe. — Robert Thomas, and John "Ward, Ann and Elizabeth 
Ward spinsters, Richard King and Elizabeth King his wife, Richard Handley. — Swinton-cum-War- 
fhermaske. — Anthony Adamson, Henry Adamson and Elizabeth his wife, George Jackson and 
Frances his wife, Symon Pickersgill and Mary his wife, Wm. Smith and Alice his wife, John 
Smith and Alice his wife, Ann Thwaites spinster. — Massam. — Jane Bridgewater widow. — Elling- 
ton. — William Thwaite, Wm. Body spinster. — Ellingstring. — Jane Smorthwaite spinster. — Fearby. 
— Edward Ryley and Isabel his wife, John Ryley. — Healey-cum-Sutton. — Anthony Wade and Jane 
his wife, Francis Wade. — Burton-super-Ure. — Roger Beckwith, Esq., Isabel Beckwith spinster." 

" July 6th, 1669. — Healey-cum-Sutton. — Anthony Wade and Jane his wife, Dorothy Jackson 
widow. — Fearby. — John Ryeley, Isabel and Mary Ryeley, Eliz. Bowes. — Ellington.— Thomas Hay- 
ton, Blackburne widow. — Uton-cum-Pott. — Robert Warde, John Warde, Ann and Jane Warde 

spinsters, Humphrey Baine and Susannah his wife, Richard King and Dorothy his wife, Richard 
Hanley. — Burton-super- Yore. — Marmaduke Beckwith and Elizabeth his wife, Wm. Beckwith." 

" July 8th, 1670. — Ellington. — Thomas Hayton and Hannah his wife, Blackburne, Anne 

and Matthew Scott. — Firby. — John and Sabil Ryley, Eliz. Bowes. — Swinton.— Henry Adamson and 
Eliz. his wife, Anthony and Margaret Adamson, George Jackson and Frances his wife, George 
Jackson and Ellen his wife, John Smith, Thomas Smith and Sarah his wife, Wm. Smith and Alice 
his wife. — Masham. — Robert Lodge and Hester his wife, Jane Bridgwater widow, Thomas Bridg- 
water. — Uton-cum-Pott. — Humphrey Bane and Susanna his wife, Richard Kinge and Eliz. his wife, 
Robert, John, and Thomas Warde, Richard Jackson." 



APPENDIX. 509 



APPENDIX. 



E. 



COPIES OF WILLS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE HISTORY OF MASHAMSHIRE 
AND THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. 



No. 1. 

Copy Will of Christopher Wyvell, Esq., of Little or Low Burton, in the 
parish of Masham. 

In ye name of God, Amen. I, Christopher "Wy veil * of Burton Constable 
in the countie of York, Esquier, this presente xxvj. day of March, 1577, 
being of good and perfeitt remembrance. First and principallye, I geve 
and bequethe my sowle to Almightie God, and my bodye to be buried in my 
closed within ye parish church of Massam in ye said countie of Yorke, if yt 
shall happen me to dye ether within ye said parish of Massam, or parishe of 
Eyngall within ye said countie of Yorke, otherways at ye order and dispo- 
sition of myne executors. Item. — My full mynd, intent, meaning, and will 
is, and also I do will and bequethe that my entyrely beloved wife Margaret 
Wyvell f shall have during her life all my maners, messuages, houses, 
dove-houses, mylles, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, with ther 
appurtenances whatsoever, in Burton Constable and Garrison in ye said 
countye of Yorke, except one fermehould in Burton Constable aforesaid, 
which John Merman now occupieth, and also except one fermehould in Gar- 
rison which Frances Brughe now dwelleth on. And also I do geve, will, 
and bequethe unto ye said Marg'ret for and during her life, all my lands, 
tenements, and hereditaments, in Spenithorne in the said countie of Yorke, 
nowe in the severall tenures or occupacons of the wife of Anthonie Burgh, 
Richard Roweth, John B-owth, and Rauph Calvert. And also one fielde 

* Christopher Wyvill was the eldest son and heir-at-law of Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, Knight, 
M.P., of Little or Low Burton, near Masham, by Agnes the daughter and heir of Sir Ralph Fitz 
Randolph, Knight, of Spennithorne, by Elizabeth his wife, one of the daughters and co-heiresfes of 
Ralph Lord Scrope of Masham, as will be seen ante p. 244. He took the part of Queen Elizabeth 
in putting down the rebellion of 1569, whilst Ms eldest son took the part of the rebels, as will be 
seen hereafter. 

t She was the daughter of the Hon. John Scrope, younger son of Henry sixth Lord Scrope of 
Bolton, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland. She had by 
C. Wyvill four sons and two daughters, viz: — 1, Marmaduke ; 2, Richard, who died young ; 
3, Robert; and 4, Christopher; Margaret, who died 12th April, 1565, and was buried in York 
Minster ; and Dorothy the wife of Solomon Swale. 

ss 



570 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

called Litle Morefeld, and one close called Brode Inge close, in Spenithorne 
aforesaid : both the said closes now being in my owne occupacon. Also I 
geve, will, and bequethe to my said wife all my lands, tenements, and he- 
reditaments, with th' appurtenances in Skabbed-Newton, and Thorneton in 
Bowlmershier in ye aforesaid countie of Yorke, to have and to hould for 
terme of her naturall life, in full allowance, recompence, and satisfaction of 
her right or tytle of dowre of, in, or to all and singuler the maners, 
lands, tenements, and hereditaments whatsoever within the realme of Eng- 
land, whereof I, the said Christofer Wivell now stand, or at any tyme 
heartofore during the espousalls between m& and the said Marg'ret have 
been seased as of any estaite of cnheritance, if she, the said Marg'ret, will 
in such maner and forme accept and tayke the same after the death of me 
the said Christofer. And further, I will and devise by this my last will and 
testament, that Robert Wyvell my second sonne shall have all my lands, te- 
nements, and hereditaments in Swaneby in the same countie of Yorke, ass 
well in possession as in revercion to him and his heires for ever, unto the 
proper and onely use and behove of ye said Robert Wyvell, his heires and 
assigns for ever. And also I will and bequethe that the said Robert shall 
have all my lands, tenements, and hereditaments, with their apppurtenances 
in Danbie and Thorneton Steward in the said countie of Yorke, together 
with all such house would stuff, furniture, and implements of househould as I 
now have, or heretofore have had, at or in the mansion house of Thorneton- 
Steward aforesaid, and nowe remayne conteyned in an inventaire maid in 
or about such tyme as Marmaduke Wyvell my eldest sonne entred into 
ye said mansion house ther to dwell, to have, and to hould ye premises with 
their appurtenances in Danbie and Thorneton-Steward aforesaid, unto ye 
said Robert Wyvell for and during his naturall life onelie. Also I give, 
will, and bequeth to Christofer Wyvell, my third sonne, all and singuler my 
maners, lands, in Spenithorne aforesaid, being at the day of ye daite hearof 
in ye tenure or occupacion of ye aforesaid Marmaduke Wyvell, for terme of 
ye naturall life of the said Christopher Wyvell. And also I geve and be- 
quethe unto the said Christofer Wyvell, all my lands in Spenithorne be- 
queathed to my wife for her life onelie, to have and to hould the same unto 
the said Christofer Wyvil my third sonne, immediatlye from and after the 
decease of the-said Marg'ret my wife, for and during his life onelie. Also 
I will and bequethe that Christofer Wyvell, my brother Wyllyam Wyvell 
sonne, shall have one annual and yearlie rent charge of liijs. iiijc?. out of my 
manner of Staynley, to be payd unto the said Christofer Wyvell yearlye du- 
ring his life at two severall tearmes in the yeare, that ys to say, at ye An- 
nunciation of our Ladie xxvjs. viijJ. and at St. Mychaell the Arkangell, other 
xxvjs. viijd. with power to distrain. Also I will and bequeath that Francis 
Brough of Garryston, shall have his ferme that he sytteth on rent fre for 
terme of his life naturall, and after his death, to remayne unto the said Mar- 
g'ret my wife for and during her life onelie. Also I geve and bequeth to 
John Merman his house and his ferme that he occupiethe for terme of his 
life, and after his death to remayne unto the said Marg'ret Wyvell my wife> 



APPENDIX. 571" 

for and during her life onely. The residue of all my maners unbequethed, 
and the reversion of those bequethed by this my last will, I geve, will, and 
bequethe unto the said Marmaduke Wyvell my sonne and heire apparant. 
Item. — I geve and bequethe unto my wife the whole use, occupacon, and 
profits of ye farme and lease of ye parson ag of Fingall during her life, and 
for the terme of yeares yen to come, paying to Christofer Wyvell my sonne, 
yearlye, after he accomplishe ye age of xviij yeares, vjli. xiijs. iiijd. at two 
several! termes in ye yeare, yt is to say, at Martynmas and St. Marke's day, 
or within xx u - dayes next after either of ye said feasts, and yf it fortune 
my said wife to dye before ye expiracon of ye said years, the residue to re- 
mayne wholy to ye said Christofer. My wife to have the use and custodie 
of hir childe porcon till he be xxj., and if she die, my son Christofer to be at 
the appoyntment of her last will. Also I give unto my afforesaid wife ye 
draught of oxen at Fingall, with all thinges to them belonging, for terme of 
her life, and so to leave them to the said Christofer Wyvell accordingly as 
she receyved ye same. Item. — I geve and bequethe unto Marmaduke 
Wyvell * my sonne and heire, ye whole use, occupacon, possession, and pro- 
fitts of my farme and lease of ye parsonage of Massham, and all the termes 
of years of and in the same to come after my deathe. — Also I geve and be- 
quethe unto the said Marmaduke all my leases of the lordshipp of Kyrkstan- 
ley. Also I geve and bequethe to my said son Marmaduke Wyvell, my best 
stoned horse, viij. at Lytle Burton [Low Burton] and all ye necessaries 
to them belonginge as wayne, yockes, and teames, my iron bound carte, 
with all things thereunto belonginge, and all my brewing vessells at Lytle 
Burton, the great chamber, the lord's chamber, ye parlour under ye lord's 
chamber, the haule, the butterie, and ye kytchinge, to be furnished as shall 
appeare by an inventorie mayd about the daite of this my last will and 
testament. Also I geve unto the said Marmaduke all my armour at Lytle 

* Marmaduke Wyvill here referred to, joined the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland 
in the rebellion of 1569 so often hereinbefore referred to ; and was taken prisoner, as appears by a 
letter from Lord Scrope to Sir W. Cecil, dated 30th Dec. By the influence of powerful friends, how- 
ever, he escaped the fate which befel some of his fellow-prisoners, and not only saved his life, but 
obtained his liberty. The f ollowing extract from a letter from the Earl of Sussex to Sir W.Cecil, da- 
ted Hartlepool, 17th Jany. 1569, has reference to him. — " Mr. Wivell's son and heire was in the rebel- 
lion with the Earl of Northumberland his master, and is by Simon Musgrave detayned as diverse 
others be in those partes contrary to my sondry letters, upon some intente they have to begg them 
off the Q. Majestie. He is my wife's cosin, and therefore if any seke to begg him I besech you to 
procnre his stay in the Q. Ma. handes. He hath nether landes nor goodes presently ; and if it shall 
not please her Maj. hereafter to give him his life free, I wold rather wish for my wife's sake, it 
might please her Maj. to take a fyne to her self, although I payed parte of it, then to give him to 
be merchandized by others." — It appears that he not only effected his escape, but that he was 
afterwards taken into favour, for he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, and was created a Baronet 
by King James I. on the 23rd Nov. 1611. He married Magdalen the daughter of Sir Christopher 
Dauby, Knt. (as mentioned ante p. 259), by whom he had a family of eight sons and two daughters- 
He erected in his life-time the sumptuous mural monument now remaining in Masham church* 
and died on the 9th Jan. 1617, aged 76 years. He was succeeded in his baronetcy and estates by 
his grandson Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, who was High-sheriff of Yorkshire in the 9th Charles I., and 
was a distinguished Royalist and sufferer, having been twice plundered by Cromwell's troops, and 
finally compelled to pay £1 ,343 as a composition for his estates. 

For several generations the Wyvills were the lessees of the tithes of Masham parish, and in 
that character they joined Trinity College, Cambridge, in presenting to the living whenever it 
became vacant. 



572 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

Burton. Also I geve unto the said Marmaduke one basen and eware of 
sylver persell gilt, tow sylver boweles with a cover persell gylt, tow sylver 
saltes with a cover dooble gilt. Item. — I geve and bequeth unto my 
doughter-in-lawe his wife, one ambling gelding. Item. — I geve unto my 
sonne Sallomon Swaile, * one gelding or \U. in moneye, whether of those 
bequests he is willing to have, and to my doughter Dorothe his wife xfo*. 
Item. — I geve and bequethe unto my brother Wylliam Wyvell, one nagg or 
fyve markes, whether of the said gyftes he is willing to have. And also I 
geve and bequethe to my brother Francis Wyvell, one nagg or fyve marks, 
whether of ye said gefts he is willing to have. Item. — I geve unto my sonne 
and heire Marmaduke Wyvell the tuic'on and bringingc upp of Christofer 
Wyvell f of Waleworthe, with all such monie as shall appeare in a bill an- 
nexed to his father's will with xft. more which I geve unto the said 
Christofer. Also I geve and bequethe unto Christofer Wyvell of Thorneton, 
my dunne horse which was under strunte tayle maire. Also I geve unto 
Marmaduke Wyvell his brother, one bay meire called bay gyll. Also I geve 
to Elizabethe Wyvell xli. towards ye preferment of hir marriage. Also 1 
geve and bequethe to my brother John Scrope, my brother Adrian Scropc, 
and to my brother Robert Scrope, every one of them, an ould ryall for a re- 
membrance. Item. — I give to my neece Ann More xls. Item. — I geve to 
my cosing Phillis Dods worth e J xxs. Item. — I geve and bequeith unto 
every yeoman servante within my house at ye tyme of my deathe, one half- 
year's wage over and besydes such wages as ys due unto them at the day of 
my deathe. And also unto all other servants in my house as well as men as 
women, one quarter's wage over and besydes such wayges as are due unto 
yem at ye same tyme. Item. — I geve to Marmaduke Wynterskell all my 
hosen as well sloppes as nether stockes, all my bootes and spurres, and all 
my hatts, except one hatt which hath a crutch on yt, and also one fushing 
dublett. Item. — I geve and bequeth xli. of moneye to be distributed and 
geven in almes § for ye healthe of my soule to the most poore, nedye, impo- 

* Solomon Swale, Esq., was the son of Thomas Swale by Cicely his wife, who was daughter 
of John Pulleyn, Esq., of Killinghall. He was the father of Francis Swale, Esq., of south Stain- 
ley, who married Anne daughter of Sampson Ingilby, Esq. (a younger son of Sir William Ingilby 
of Ripley), and had by her a son Solomon Swale, who was created a Baronet on the 21st June, 
1660, and represented the borough of Aldborough in the Parliament which voted the restoration 
of King Charles II. He married Dorothy the daughter of Christopher Wyvill (the testator). 

t Christopher Wyvill here alluded to, was the eldest son of testator's brother, Sampson Wyvill 
of Walworth, in the county of Durham, who by his will dated the 12th April, 1568, mentions 
Christopher his eldest son, his son Thomas, his daughter Margaret, as also his wife Faith, and ap- 
points Christopher Wyvill of Burton, and Nicholas Girlington of Hackforth, Esq., Marmaduke 
Wyvill, and Nicholas G-irlington junr., gentlemen, the supervisors of his will, but commits his 
eldest son Christopher (here alluded to) to the charge of his Uncle (the testator mentioned in 
the text). The mother of this youth was Faith the daughter of Nicholas Girlington, Esq., of Hack- 
forth; she survived her husband and re-married George the son of Henry Pudsey, Esq., of 
Barford. 

t She was the daughter of the testator's aunt Dorothy Wyvill, who married Richard or Roger 
Dodsworth, Esq., of Thornton-Watlass, by whom she had a family of children, one of whom was 
Phillis Dodsworth here alluded to. 

§ Although the testator took the part of Queen Elizabeth in putting down the rebellion of 
1560, in which his eldest son risked his life, he was a Roman Catholic in doctrine and by profes- 
sion, and consequently believed in the efficacy of the giving of alms for the health of his soul as 
here indicated. 



APPENDIX. 573 

tent, and lame persons dwelling and inhabiting in such places as hereafter 
followethe, that ys to say, in ye parishinge of Massham v/i., in ye parishinge 
of Fingall iijE, and in ye parishing of Spenithorne xls., to he payd by my 
executors over and besydes my funerall expenses. The resydew to Marg'ret 
my wife, Robert and Cristopher Wyvell my tow sons, they X'rs, supervisors, 
my loving brother-in-lawe Henry Scrope, and my loving sonne Marmaduke 
Wyvell : and for the paines taking theirin, I geve to either of them tow 
odd ryalls for a remembrance. In witness whereof I have set my hand and 
seale, &c — these being witnesses, Lanclot Rowth, clerk, person of Fyngall, 
&c. Christopher Wyvell. Proved 10 May, 1579, in the Archdeaconry 
Court of Richmond. 



No. 2. 

Copy Will of Margaret Wivell of Little Burton, the widow of Christopher 
Wyvell before named. 

In the name of God, Amen. I, Margaret Wivell of Little Burton, widow, 
being craised of bodie, but of good and perfect remembrance, thankes be 
geven to God, this presente xix. daie of Auguste in the yeare of our Lorde 
God, 1584, and in the xxxist. yeare of the reigne of our sovereigne Ladie 
Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queene of England, France, and Ireland, de- 
fender of the faith, &c, do ordeine, constitute, and make this my last will 
and testament in manner and forme following : — First, I geve and principal- 
lie bequeithe my soule to the blessed Trinitie and all the blessed companie 
of heaven, and my bodie to be buried beside my husband's, in the churche of 
Massham, and presentlie after my deathe tenn poundes, to be geven at that 
time to the poore. Item. — I geve and bequiethe to my daughter Mawdlen, 
my french hood with all things thereunto belonginge, my stillitorie [a still} 
and six elle of linninge cloth. Item. — 1 geve and bequieth to Christopher 
Wivill my sonne, Marmaduke's sonne, my crosse of golde and xv£ over and 
beside all suche househould stufFe as I have delivered to his father accordinge to 
suche a note as I have delivered him. Item. — I geve and bequiethe unto 
Marie Wivell, my son Marmaduke's doughter, one silver salte with a cover, 
one gilded spone, one diper table clothe, one pair of linen sheetes and two 
pillow-beeres over and beside \li. I have delivede her father. Item. — I geve 
unto Umphrdie Wivell, Francis Wivel, William Wivell, and John Wivell, 
my sonne Marmaduke's children, everye one a cowe. Item. — I geve to 
Elizabeth Wivell, my sonne Marmaduke's daughter, one brode canvaisse 
table clothe, one longe sewed silke quisshone over and beside x\li. I have de- 
livered her father. Item.— I geve and bequiethe to Marmaduke Wivell my 
sonne Marmaduke's sonne xxs. over and besides vli. I have delivered his 
father. Item. — I geve and bequiethe to Thomas Wivell my sonne, Marma- 
duke Wivell sonne xxs. over and besides \li. I have delivered his father. 
Item. — I geve and bequiethe to my brother More xls., to my sister Moore 



574 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

iijft. and tenn yardes of Linnen, and to everie one of my brother More sonne, 
xs. Item.— I geve to my nece Anne Moore, three silver spones with maiden 
heades, one paire of linnen sheetes, one paire of harden sheets, one table-clothe, 
one cubbord clothe, six table napkins, my best pillione, one whie and xiijs. for 
a black gowne over and besides xxli. and a whole bed of close I have delivered 
her. Item. — I geve to Margaret Moore, one mattresse, one bolster, one paire of 
blanketts, two coverletts, one paire of harden sheetes, two pattlothes and 
two smoks. Item. — I geve to my nephew Adrian * Scrope, two angells, and 
to eyther of his brethren one angell, and to his sister Philis xls. Item.— 
I will that my sonne Kob'te shall paie unto my nephew Adrian for a horse I 
bought of him, tenn pounds att the daie of his marriadge. Item. — I geve 
unto every one of my brother Adrian's children xs. Item. — I geve and 
bcquiethe unto Salamon Wyvell my sonne, Rob'te's sonne, one silver bowle, 
one silver salt without cover, one trussinge bedd [a travelling bed], one fole- 
ded table, beinge boothe in the chamber where my husband and I was wont 
to lie, one greate chyste, two pillowes, one paire of blanketts, one coverlett, 
my best counterpoint. Item. — I geve to Madlen Wivell his sister xli. which 
I will that her father put forwardes to her use. Item. — I geve to Mar- 
garett Swaille one silver spone, one why [a young heifer] and ten ewes, one 
little white cover, one paire of lynne sheetes, one to well, one cobert cloth, 
vij. napkins over and besides X.IL I have alredie delivered to her mother. 
Item. — I geve unto my brother William Wivell xili. which he oweth me in 
money. Item. — I geve to X'for his sonne xxs. Item. — I geve unto my 

brother Francis Wivell xs. Item I geve unto my cosen Elizabeth Gowse 

my beste clothe gowne, and to every one of her daughters xs. Item. — I 
geve to my cousin Phillis Tennante my velvet hat. Item. — I geve to Mrs. 
Alice Segiswicke xxs. Item. — I geve and bequithe unto my daughter 
Swaile * my silver goblett, my silver pottinger [a porringer or a little dish 
with ears], the trusstinge bed I lie on with all that is of it (the feather bedd 
and bolster onely excepted), one black coffer with all things therein, my 
great coffer which hathe her marke thereon, three score weathers (which my 
sonne Marrnaduke's sonne and my sonne Robert shall deliver if there be so 
many remaininge in their handes att the daie of my deathe) fortie ewes, five 
kine and three calves, four quarters of mault, two quarters of wheate, and 
all the new milke house vessels unoccupied, and halfe my household stuffe, 
my legacies first discharged, with half my swine, poultry, and bees, or else 
one hundreth marks, with my silver gobblett, and my silver pottinger, and the 
greate coffer which hathe her marke on, to be paid within one year after my 
deathe, and four pounds for their blacks. Item. — I geve and bequiethe unto 
my son Marmaduke Wivell half my cattle and my sheepe, my legacies firste 
beinge paid, my best feather bed and bolster and fortie shillings for such 
kitching stuffe as was undelivered of my son Christopher's childe portions. 
And my clock, or else one hundreth markes if it please him to be delivered 

* This is " the thrice noble Sir Adrian " mentioned ante p. 241, who was the son of her bro- 
ther Kalph Scrope of Hambledon, and father of Adrian the " regicide" whose signature is at- 
tached to the death warrant of King Charles the First. — See ante p. 241. 

* See ante. 



APPENDIX. 575 

within one yeare next after my death. Item. — I geve unto my sonne Robt. 
wief my best gowne and kirtle [a tunic or jacket] and dubblett, one coffer 
"with ii. table clothes, ii. cuberte close, ii. towells, ii. pillow beers, six table 
napkins, my linnbeck, ii. quishings [cushions] and fortie shillings for a 
black gowne. Item. — I geve Frances Burghe wife of Gareston, my best 
petticote. Item. — I geve to Margaret Beckwith, my god-daughter, xls. and 
one whye stirk. Item. — I geve to Elizabeth Blackburne xls., one cowe, my 
work-day kirtle and petticoate, one mattrice, one bolster, one pair of 
blankets, and one coverlett, one pair of harden sheets, one smock, one ker- 
chef and one fail [a garment of fine linen formerly worn round the neck]. 
Item. — I geve to the residue of my maydens every one vs. and one smocke, 
one kerchef, and one rail. Item. — I geve to my men servants every one vs. 
Item. — I geve to William Winterskell vs. Item, — I geve to John Waggett 
and his wife, iiis. iiiid. Item. — I require my sonne Marmaduke that after 
my burial he will call together my friends and make them a dinner at Bur- 
ton Parke, and I geve for the chardge thereof tenne poundes, and if he be 
not in the country at that tyme, then my minde and will is, that my sonne 
Robert shall have the xZ. and make the dinner att Thornton Steward. Item. 
- — I geve to the poor of Massam xls., to Burton and Fingall xxs., to be distribu- 
ted in Lenten after my deathe. Item. — My full minde, that if any of those 
legacies before bequiethed in this my laste will and testament be deliverede 
to any the parties afforenamed in my lief tyme, that then my executors 
shall be thereof acquitted and discharged. The residue of all my good debts 
and legacies discharged, I geve and bequiethe unto my son Robert Wivell, 
whome I do ordeine, constitute, and appointe my sole executor of this my 
last will and testament according to such uses as I have appointed. — In wit- 
ness whereof I have sett to my hand and seale, the daie and yeare above 
wrytten. 

Letters of Administration of the effects of the deceased were granted by the 
Peculiar Court of Masham to Robert Wivell, the sole executor mentioned in 
the above will, he having exhibited an Inventory amounting to the sum of 
£351 14s. <±d., and entered into the necessary bond with Christopher Beck- 
with of Nutwith Cote, yeoman, as his surety. 



No. 3. 

Copy Will of John Laton of Snape Low Parke, in the Parish of Well. 

In the nayme of God, Amen. The sexte day of Apryll, in the yere off 
our Lord God, m.ccccc.lvtij. I, John Laton of Snape Low Parke * I gyff 
unto Marjorye Laton my wyfe, such lands and tenements as I have pur- 
chased within the lordshipp and grounds att Skulterskeff and Osmoderlay, 

* John Laton of Snape Low Park, was descended from a younger son of the family of Laton 
of Sexhowe. He was the son of William Laton who died 6 Hen. VIII. , by Margaret the daughter 

of Thomas Montford. He married Marjery daughter of Dodsworth of Thornton- Watlass, by 

whom he left four sons and a daughter. — All his sons died childless.— See Rkhmondshire Wills. 



576 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

within the Countye of Yorke, and after her dyseas the same lands and tene- 
ments to remayne unto John Laton my eldest son, and to his heirs for ever. 
And I gyf unto the said Marjery my wife, all myn hooll intreste, right, and 
tytle which I have for th' one halfe off an oxgang land at Newby-upon- 
Wyske, for terme of certayn yers yit nott expyred. And I gyf unto my said 
wife and to John Laton myn eldest son, and to the over-lyffer of them, all 
my hooll ryght, title, and intereste of all and syngler, such yerely annuities as 
I have att any tyme heretofore opteyned and bought of any person or persons 
eyther at Snape or Skampston, within the said countye of Yorke. And I wyll 
that the said Marjorie my wife, to have and occupie for terme of her lyfe all 
my fermyngs, both tythes and oder which I have at Well, Tiddellfude, Est 
Harellyssey and att Ilton in Mashamshire, and the corne tythes for the 
Kynge, part att Karethropp, with all maner, comodyties, and profetts to 
them or any of them belongyng. And I gyf unto my son Christopher 
Laton xli. over and besyde his bairne part, and my best horse, and the reste 
of all my yers of my farmyngs at "Well, Ilton, and Carethropp by the fore- 
said, after my said wyfe disceas, and I wyll and desyre that my said son 
Christofer may have the maryage of Isabell Mennyll the King's ward, afore 
she come to xvj. years old, or ells to eyther off my two oder sones George or 
Herry Laton, and yfytt chaunce ye said Isabell utterly to refuse all my 
said sones, then I will that her mariage be sool'ed afore her said age of xvj. 
yers, and the said Christopher Laton to have the full halfe thereof towards 
his preferment of marriage or oderwyse, and resydue of the value of her 
said mariage equally to be devided amongs all oder my said sones and my 
said wyfe. And for all maner rents and other yerely profetts conrying or 
growing of all the said Isabell is landds to be receyved yerely by my said 
wiffe or her assjTiges, and the moyte thereof, she to retayne to her own pro- 
per use, and th' oder moyte to be dysposed and devided after her dyscrescon 
to and emongs all oder our children. And I gyf to our younger sons George 
and Henry Laton vli. in money to eyther off them over and above ther 
bairn parts. And I gif to Agnes Laton my doghter x\li. towards her 
maryage and in full payment of her bayrn part. And I gyf her also vj. syl- 
ver spones and a fether bed wyth all things thereunto perteynyng. And I 
wyll she have a cowe and a whie as gode in value as those were that her 
grandaym, my moder and her cosyn Ann Lyster * gaffe her, with resoon- 
able satisfaccion for the calfs I have had of them. And I gif to John Laton 
my eldest son, my flowr off gold with a stone in yt and xx. nobles in money, 
besydes his bairn part. And I wyll that after my wyff's desceas, my said 
son John Laton to have all myn farmyngs at Sidal, Est Haresley, boithes 
tythes and all oder. And my said wyf to pay him xxvjs. viije?. yerely at 

* Anne Lyster (who was probably own sister to tbe testator's wife) was the wife of Richard 
Lyster, gentleman. In her will made at Masham, on the 3rd July, 1552, she directs her body to 
be "carded " in the church of our Lady at Masham, and leaves to Richard Beckwith " a cowe cal- 
led Young Allback," — to Margaret Beckwith " iiij Eye called flowreld, old Allak, White-fote with 
her calf, and tagged whye with calf" — to her sister Dodisworth her best gowne and hat — to her 
son John's wife a pair of corall beads — to Dorothy Parker a pair of l'amber beads and a velvet 
patlet — to Dorothy Dodsworth her best basin and her best charger — to her daughter Beckwith 
her syde saddle ; and mentions her brother Anthony Dodsworth. — Eichmondshire Wills, published 
by the Surtees Society. 



APPENDIX. 577 

Mertilmes and Pentyeost, by evyn porcons duryng tyme off her occupation 
of the farmyngs, or any oder person or persons. And I gyff to Isabell Men- 
nel my best mere, a fether bed, a bolster, a pair of sheets, a par blankets, ij. 
coverlets and a counterpoynt. I gyff unto my Lord Latymer * xls. I gyff 
to th' endmendmentt of the churchwarke at Well, and for my lying in the 
church there xs. Also 1 gyf to Mr. Vycar there xs. To Sir Jamys Place 
xld. And whereas John Dalton heretofore delyvered me v marks to kepe, 
which afterwards by reason of the fall of money was but xxxiijs. iiijf?. 
which same 1 wyll he be rekenyed for, and to be satisfyd thereof accord- 
ingly. The resydue to Margery e Laton my wyfe my executrix. 



No. 4. 
Copy Will of the Rev. George Neville, D.D., Master of Well Hospital. 

In the name of God, Amen. The fourth day of September, the yere of 
our Lorde God a thowsande fyve hundreth threescore and seven. I, George 
Nevill,f Doctor of Dyvinytie, and Maister of th' 'Ospitall of Well, of an 
hole mynde and perfite remembrance, makith this my last will and testa- 
ment in maner and forme folowynge. First. — I geve and bequyeth my soule 
unto God Almyghtie my Cretor and Redemer, the whiche onely I trust in 
his marcy and merits of his passion to have everlastynge life after this mis- 
erable worlde, and my body to be buryed within the queyr of Well churche 
nye unto the old Mr. of Well, and to have a writyng gravyn above fixed 
upon the marbill stone ther and the old Mr. Threplande % name ther on also. 
Item. — I geve and bequyeth unto the churchewarke of Well vjfo'. xiijs. iiijc?. 
Item. — I geve and bequyeth unto the parishe of Spoforde xxli. — to the par- 

ishe of Well xx^'._to the parishe of Bolton xxli to the parishes of Sawgill and 

Morland xxli., and to the pareshe of Burton Latymer xxli. Item. — I geve unto 
Sir Henry Percy § and my lady his wife and Thomas ther son, my godson, 

* John Lord Latimer of Snape, who married Lucy daughter of Henry Earl of Worcester, by 
whom he left four daughters and co-heiresses, and died on the 22d of April, 19 Eliz. — Ibid. 

t George Neville (the testator) was the thirteenth child and seventh son of Richard Lord 
Latimer by Anne daughter of Sir Humphrey Stafford of Grafton in Worcestershire, having been 
born on the 29th July, 1509. He was also brother to Elizabeth the wife of Sir Christopher Danby, 
Knight, mentioned ante page 254. Besides being the master of Well Hospital he held at the time 
of his death the livings of Spofford, Bolton, and Leake in Yorkshire, Rothbury in Northumber- 
land, and Salkeld and Morland in Cumberland. 

X Richard Threpland of Well, clerk, by his will dated 4 June, 1552, left 25. to be distributed in 
alms among poor people immediately after his departure : — to his niece Janet Sympson the house 
in which he dwelt, and his lease of a close in Longworth, which he held of Lord Latimer — to Ma- 
tilda his sister, his furred gown — to Ann Willyngson his sister, a side gown which had no lining 
— to John Willyson his nephew, a short gown — Sir Robert Redshaw, Sir John Rokeby, and Sir 
John Robynson, his curates, are the witnesses to his will, which was proved 19th July, 1552. 

§ Sir Henry Percy (here alluded to) was the second son of Sir Thomas Percy, who was be- 
headed in 1557, for the part he took in the rebellion called " the Pilgrimage of Grace," mentioned 
ante page 96. After his elder brother (the Earl of Northumberland) was beheaded at York in 
1570, for the part he took in the rebellion, " The Ri«ing of the North, " alluded to ante page 97, 
he became the eighth Earl of Northumberland. He was sometime governor of Norham Castle, and 
was also for a considerable period Captain of Tynemouth Castle. When the last mentioned rebel- 
lion broke out, he had the good sense to refrain from joining in it. He ultimately, however, be- 

TT 



578 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIKE. 

■ 

amongst them, in olde gold x\li. Item.— I geve unto Mr. Christ Wyvell * xli to 

Maistress Wyvell his wife iijli. vjs. xiijd. — to Mr. Marmaduke Wyvell and his 

wief v&. — to the Parson of Tanfield xls. — to the Parson of Kyrtlyngton xls to 

the Vicar of Well iijli. vjs. viijd. — to Mr. Hodgeson xls to Sir William 

Adamson xls — to Sir Rauf Smith xxs., and where I am lawfully possesside 
of one annuytie of xjli. ixs. xd., goynge furth of the maner of Nonmonkton, 
for the terme of many yeres yet endurynge, I geve, will, and bequj'eth unto 
Antony Chaloner xxvjs viije?., parcell of the saide annul tie of xjli. ixs. xd. 
Item. — I geve, will, and bequyeth unto John Wilsone xxvjs. viijcZ. parcell of 
the said annuytie xjli. ixs. Yd. Item. — I geve, will, and bequyeth unto 
Henry Harlande xxvjs. viijc?. parcell of the said annuytie of xjli. ixs. xd. 
Item — I geve, will, and bequythe unto the said John Lambert xxvjs. xiijd. 
parcell of the said annuytie of xjli. ixs. xd. Also, I geve, will, and be- 
quyeth unto Thomas Scrafton xiiijs. ixd. parcell of the said annuytie of xjli. 
ixs. yd. Item. — I geve, will, and bequyeth unto Sir Thomas Gill xli. par- 
cell of the said annuytie of xjli. ixs. vd., and if it fortune the saide Sir 
Thomas Gill, or any other of my servants above writtyn, unto whom I have 
geven any annuytie, to dye affore my yeres of the afForesaid an'tie of xjli. 
ixs. xd. in Nonmonkton be fynished and ended, that then the said annuities 
of them so deceased and deid to be distributed to the poore people within 
Well parishynge, to whom as shall be thought most mete by the sight and 
appoyntment of my executors. Item. — I geve and bequyeth unto my sead 
servants Antony Chaloner xli. — to John Wilson xl. — to Henry Harland xli. — 
to Antony Sympson xli. — to Thomas Scrafton iiijli. Item — I geve unto 
Agnes Freer xli. — to Anne Key xxs. — to John Cooke with his wagies xs. — 
to Wynde with his wagies xiijs. ixd. — to John Brown xxs. — to Thomas 
Wade with his wages xiijs. iiijd. — to Bucele with his wages xs. — to Agnes 
Freer with hir wages xiijs. iiijcZ. — to Ware with his wages xs. — to Wayn- 
man with his wagies xs. — to Marmaduke Emondson xli. — to Robert Barkus 

xls. — to William Morland xxs. Item I geve and bequyeth unto Sir John 

Nevill f xli. and v marks for hymself. Item. — I bequyeth xx marks to be 
bestowide by my executors for mendynge of Briggs and hyewais. Item. — 
I geve unto Susan Nevill J if she be lyving iiijli. — to Mary Nevill xls. — to 
Mr. Doctor Sygewike iiijli. — to the poore people at my buryall and for the 

came suspected of participating in the conspiracies of Mary Queen of Scots, and after remaining for 
some time under the surveillance of the officers of Queen Elizabeth, he was thrown into the Tower, 
where, after a long and tedious imprisonment, he shot himself on the 21st < .Iune, 1585, being the 
seventh Earl of Northumberland, and the thirteenth member of the family of Percy who died by 
violent death. 

He married Catherine eldest daughter of John fourth Lord Latimer, and niece of the testa- 
tor, and of Elizabeth the wife of Sir Christopher Danby, Knt., by whom he left a large family. 

* Christopher Wyvill, here alluded to, is the person whose will occurs ante. 

t Sir John Neville of Iiversedge, who married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Christopher Danby, 
Kiit., and a niece of the testator, for an account of whom see ante page 256. 

% Susan Neville, the fifth daughter and seventh child of Richard Lord Latimer (and niece of 
the testator, and of Elizabeth the wife of Sir Christopher Danby, Knt.), was born on the 28th of 
April, 1501, and married Richard Norton, Esq., of Norton Conyers, near Ripon, the " Patriarch" 
of the Rebellion of 1569, so often before alluded to. He, with most of his family, having joined 
in that ill-fated enterprize, on the failure of the insurrection were especially marked out for ven- 
geance. Christopher Norton, however, his seventh son, was the only member of the family that 






APPENDIX. 579 

dyner xx marks. — to my executors idi. apece, except those rewarded and ap- 
poynted in a bill. Item. — I geve unto Sir Henry Percy halfe the tithe 
corne of Spoford, for the delapidacions and his goodnes shewid unto me. 
Item. — I geve unto Mr. Doctor Carter xls. And I geve, will, and bequyeth 
unto my trusty servants Antony Chaloner, John Wilson, Henry Harland, 
John Lambert, and Thomas Scrafton, those iij parts of my fermehold of 
Leake in iiij parts divided, whiche I have in myn owne occupacion, to have 
and to hold unto them duryng all my interest and terme of yeres in the 
same, and the iiijth parte thereof being nowe in the occupacion of Richard 
Danby, I geve, will, and bequyeth unto the said Richard Danby durynge all 
my interest and terme of yeres in the same. Also, I geve unto the said 
Richard Danby xls. Also, I geve and bequyeth unto the Lady Jefforth 
fyve marks. And I geve unto my nephos Francis Norton, John Norton, 
Edmunde Norton, William Norton, George Norton, Christopher Norton, 
Sampson Norton, and Marmaduke Norton, silt. — to be devidid equally 
amongest them. Item. — I geve and bequyeth unto Mr. Myghell Wandisford * 
xls., and to George Wandisford my godson, other xls. Item. — I geve unto 
my nece Mary Lambone f liijs. iiijeL Item. — I give unto my nepho Wil- 
liam Danby J xxli. — to my nepho James Danby § xx marks, and I geve 
unto my nepho Marmaduke Danby || xx marks. Item. — 1 geve unto Sir 
Thomas Scoot iiij//. Item. — I will, geve, and bequyeth unto John Wandis- 
ford, clerk, Hen. Hodgeson, clerk, and Leonard Bateson, clerk, all mybokes, 
certen books whiche are called the course of Lyra, whiche I will shall re- 
mayne into the churche of Well onely excepted. Item. — I geve, bequyeth, 
and will, that my executors shall pay all such summes of money and be- 
quests as ar wrytyn and conteynyd in a cedall or bill hereunto annexed. 
The residue of all my goods, my will fulfilled by detts and legacies contented 
and paid, I geve unto Syr Henry Percy, Knyght, Richarde Norton, 51 Crist. 
Wyvell, ** and Crist. Danby, f f Esquires. Witnesses hereof. — William Fir- 
bie, Thomas Hutchenson, John Anderson, Marmaduke Lemynge, John Pic- 
kerynge, yonger, George Neville. 

Proved in the Archdeaconry Court of Richmond, on the 4th Nov. 1567, 
by Richard Norton, Chris'r Wyvell, and Christr. Danby, Esquires. 

was put to death : of the others, one or two were pardoned, and the rest, together with their aged 
father, escaped abroad and died in exile. 

* Michael" Wandesford (here alluded to) was the fourth son of Thomas Wandesford, Esq., 
of Kirklington, by Margaret, daughter of Henry Pudsay, Esq., of Barford. He married Isabel 
daughter of Rowland Place, Esq., of Hanlaby. The George Wandesford next mentioned in 
the will was probably the son of Michael. 

t Mary Lamborne (here alluded to) was a daughter of Richard Norton before mentioned, by 
a sister of the testator. She married Henry Green, Esq., of Newby, and after his death (in 1557) 
she re-married John Lamborne, who was deeply implicated in the rebellion of 1569. 

t Willam Danby (here alluded to) was the sixth son of Sir Christopher Danby, Knt. 

§ James Danby (here alluded to) was the fourth son of Sir Christopher Danby, Knt., see ante 
p. 262. 

|| Marmaduke Danby (here alluded to) was of Masham, and the fifth son of Sir Christopher 
Danby, Knt., as will be seen ante page 262. 

IT Richard Norton was the leader of the rebellion of 1569. 

** Christopher Wyvill is the testator mentioned ante. 

ft Christopher Danby is Sir Christopher Danby, Knt., mentioned ante. 



580 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 



APPENDIX. 



F. 



Extracts from an old booh of Accounts belonging to the Churchwardens of 
Ifasham, from A.D. 1540 to A.D. 1677. * 

A.D. 1542.— Received " and gathered in the church for Rowell Candell 
afore the rood xxd.— for Howell Eges of Masham xijd." Paid " against the 
Assumption of our Ladye" xjlb. of waxe iijs. vijrf. — Christopher Williamson, 
for making of it vijd., for wyre for the clock id. for the Rowell iiij/6. of 
waxe xx<7., and for makynge of the same iiijc?. to the Clark of Dent, for 
mendying and tunyng of the Organ iijs. to John Syxforthe, for kepyng of 
the clock iiijs. 

A.D. 1543. — Received of John Beckwith of Swynton, for lyeing of his 
mother in the churche iijs. iiijd. f for the Rowell Eges of Masham, xije?. 
Paid against Easter, xij/6. of waxe for the serges and the Rowell, and for 
makyng the sayd serges, vijt?. ; for makyng the Rowell, iije?. to John Cor- 
bryke of Petley Bridge, for xl stone of Leyde, xiijs. to John Smorthwayt 
of Hilton, for x stone of Leyd, iijs. iiijd. to Nycolas Plummer, for castyng 
of the churche roofe, xxs. viijrf. to Rauf Thekston, for fetching half a fother 
of leyd from Patley Bridge, xxiijc?. for meyt and drynk at Bayll Gyll, xd. 
to John Yatts, for makyng of the sompe to make leyd in, i]d. to Symonde 
Robynson's wyfe, for a gallon of ayll, i]d. to John Johnson of Heley, for carye- 
ing of x stone of leyd to Massam, ijd. to Robert Johnson, for fetchyng xl 

* This is the Book referred to ante page 409, which has only been recovered since the preced- 
ing sheets were printed off. It is full of very interesting matter. From this book it will be seen 
that, as is still common in the Roman Catholic Churchy Masham Church used to be lighted up 
with Wax Candles placed before the rood or crucifix ; and that this practice was continued until 
it was prohibited on the completion of the Reformation by an Order in Council, 2 EdAvard 6th, 
A.D. 1548, and again revived in Queen Mary's time. Whilst the practice prevailed, very large 
sums of money appear to have been annually expended in the purchase of wax, and the making of 
it up into different descriptions of candles. In it we are able to trace not only the great changes 
which were, at this period, taking place in the Church, but in the State —the suppression of the 
Roman Catholic religion and its usages, and mode of worship; and its temporary revival in the 
reign of Queen Mary — the establishment of the Protestant or reformed religion in the time of 
Queen Elizabeth— its overthrow by the Puritans during the Commonwealth ; and its revival after 
the Restoration — the continual changes in the Communion Book — the putting up of the King's 
Arms in the Church (1605) by way of asserting the King's right to be " In England the supreme 
head on earth of the Church" — the pulling down of the King's Arms (A.D. 1651) by the Parlia- 
ment during the Commonwealth ; and the setting up of the Arms of the Commonwealth in their 
stead — the setting up again of the King's Arms (A.D. 1660) after the Restoration— the ringing at 
King Charles's Coronation, and on the 29th May. The book is also very valuable in shewing the 
price of labour, and of different descriptions of commodities at these early dates. 

t See as to this ante page 417. 



APPENDIX. 581 

stone of leyde * at Pateley Bridge, for horse and man, xiijd. to Cowper's 
wyfe, for ij gallons of ayll, yd. for blawing the Organse, ije?. 

a.d. 1544. — Received of Margaret Dodsworth, for her bequest to the 
churche, vjs. viije?. of Robert Browne, to bye one clothe for the crosse iijs. 
iiijd. of the sayd Robart, for his bequest to ye churche, vjs. viije?. for the 
rowell Edges of Massam xije?. 

Paid for waxe agaynst the Assumpcyon of our Ladye, for makeynge the 
seyrges afore the royd, iis. viijd. to the Organ maker, iiijV7. Symond 
Robynson, for mendyng the Great Bell, xcZ. for sylke and black threde, yd. 
for mendyng of vestments, xd. 

A.D. 1545. — Received of Massam rowell eges, xijc?. of lit on, vjd. for 
Heley, vjd. for Fearby, vjd. for Ellyngstryng, vjd. for Ellyngton, vjd. 
for Burton, ijd. 

Paid for Oyll to the Lampe, ijs. against Chrystmas, to Christopher 
Williamson, for makyng the serges afor the roydes, viijtf. against Easter, to 
Christopher Williamson, for makyng the serges afore the royd, and for the 
rowell makyng, xd. for answering at Fyngall Court, iiijd. 

a.d. 1546. — Received of Robert Langbane, for the rowell eges of Ellyng- 
ton, vjd. of Ilton, iiije?. and vjd. of Ellyngstryng, vjdf. of Swynton, vjd. 
of Burton, ijd. of Massam, xij d. of Fearby, vjd. for Rowell, more than 
was gathered in the church, xiij d. 

A.D. 1554. — Paid settyng up the Royd Altar, viijd. for blew thred, 
grene thred, and royd thred, for the mendyng of the vestments, iiijd. 

A.D. 1555. — Paid to the Prest of Mydylsmore, for mendyng the Organ, 
viijs. for nayls for the Organ, ij d. to Christopher Ardington, for makyng 
the Rerestore Dore, iijs. i'd. for watching the Rerestore, when the Dore 
was brokynne, viijc?. for the Rolle Candle afore the Royd. for mendyng 
of iij albs, ijd. t for making of the Rowell, xijd. for vj yards of Lynnen 
Cloth to ij Ratchetts : J to the Clarks, iiijs, iiije7. ; to Agnes Peckett, for 
making of the same Rachetts, vjd. 

a.d. 1556. — Paid for mending the Prest's Surploses, iiije?. for mending 
of Vestments and Albs, vijd. for making of ij Rachetts, iiijd. 

a.d. 1559. — Paid for Ayll, when the Serges were mayd, ijd. for werke 
making of the serges and the Rowell Candell, xxiijJ. Payd for Commu- 
nion Boke, viijs. for one Salter, xij d. 

a.d. 1564. — Paid for making one Rachet, iijd. 

A.D. 1566. — Paid to William Wylson, for cordyng of a Grave in the 
Ladye Quiere, ijd. 

A.d. 1567. — Paid for expenses at Rippon, when we were afore the Com- 
missioners, ijs. iiijc?. 

* It would appear by this entry, and by numerous other similar entries, that about this date 
the churchwardens were occupied in covering in the Church with lead. The average price paid 
for lead appears to have been from 4td. to 5d. per stone ; and the ale that was drank by the work- 
men employed on the works appears to have cost from 2c?. to 2%d. per gallon. 

t An Alb, is an ample linen tunic with sleeves, named from its colour, worn next over the 
cossock and amice. It was, at first, loose and flowing ; afterwards, bound with a zone, mystically 
signifying continence. 

t A Rochet is a surplice, save that it has no sleeves ; and was for the clerk who assisted the 
priest at the mass. 



582 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

A.D. 1570. — Paid for taking down of Tabernacles, ixd. * 

a.d. 1572. — Paid for Communyon Boke to Raufe Bell of Rippon, xs. jd. 

Received of John Horsman, for not standing as a churchwarden, xije?. 
of Christopher Walker for the same, xije?. of John Beckwith of Pott, for 
the same, xijc?. of Richard Beckwith of Wardermask, for the same, xije?. 
of Humphrey Baine, for the same, xije?. of Thomas Johnson, xijd. of 
Henry Atkynson, xije?. for the Rood loft, vs. 

Paid for the exchange of the Communion Cupe, and the expense about 
the same, xxs. for making of the Communion Table, and for other charges of 
workemen abowt the church at that tyme, xs. jd. for books — thatys to say, 
the Homylyes and Salter of David, Spalms and other boks, vjs. to the 
Clarke, for lack of his wages, ijs. iiije?. to John Nycollson, that he was 
behind of his charge, ixs. 

a.d. 1575. — Paid for bread and wine against Christmas, iiijs. to Cather- 
ine Bridgewater, for making of a new surplice, and mending of an old, xije?. 
to Richard Watson, for mending of the Poore Boxes and the windows that 
was broken, ije?. to Katherine Bridgewater, for making of a new surplice and 
a Ratchett, ijs. 

A.D. 1580. — Paid expenses of churchwardens when they were commandyt 
to appear before my Lord Presydent, ijs. 

M. — That the Churchwardens of Masham in the yeare of our Lord God 
1595, The worshipfull and the xxiiij of the same parish, hath sold all such 
parcels of church geare as came to their sight, conteyned in one invent- 
ory in the same pagina next following, unto Mr. Robt. Wyvell for the 
summe of vij/. f of lawfull Englyshe moneye to be paid as hereafter folio w- 
eth, viz : at, in, & upon. 

An Inventori/e made the xxiiijth daye of August, Anno D'ni 1595 [Qy. 1575], 
of certaine gere belonginge to the parishinge of Masham, in the hands 8f 
keeping of certaine men as hereinafter follow eth : — 

It. — In the hands of Mr. Marmaduke Danbye, J one Vestment of White 
Damaske, one Vestment of red dund velvett, with a crosse of blewe Damaske, 
with an old Vestment of silke, with a lyninge & one coope of velvett defaced. 

It. — In the hands of James Beckwith of Masham, one Vestment of dund 
velvett with a croose, one pece of greene & blewe sattaine in burgies — with 
five paines of eyther part with two lyninges. 

It. — In Christopher Watson's hands of Ellin gstringe, one blewe sute of 
sattaine in burgeis, lackynge the coope, with certaine Laycinges. 

It. — In the hands of Robert W T intersgill of Fearby, one purse of velvett, 
one canobie [canopy] of velvett, with all such things as doth appertaine to 
the same, xj coxpaxes, § ij old purses, a little Bell, one pece of Fustian. — 

* A Tabernacle is an ornamented chest, placed on the altar as a receptacle of the ciborium and 
pyxis. It is also a canopied stall or niche. 

t The £7 was paid by Mr. Robt. Wyvell by instalments. 

X See ante page 262. 

§ The linen cloths which were spread over the body (corpus) or consecrated elements in the 
Sacrament. The design of using them was to represent the body of our Saviour being wrapped in 
fine linen by Joseph of Arimathea. 



APPENDIX. 583 

in albes, & a pece of a dund Sarsonett some tyme one caire cloth. 

It. — In the hands of John Sturdye, one sute of red velvett with grene 
orfrayes [embroidery], lackinge half of one tunycke with one coope apper- 
teyinge to the same, of red velvett in the hands of John Beckwith of Swin- 
ton, of the hie hall. 

It. — In the hands of Christopher Beckwith, one Vestment of red sattaine, 
with one hand bell. 

It. — In the hands of William Kinge of Masham, one Piatt of Brasse & 
one hand bell. 

It. — In the hands of John Dodsworth, one coope of blewe sattaine in 
gauge, ijs. * 

It. — In the hands of Edwarde Saly weeke, one Frunt cloth f of Sattaine 
in burgeis, grene & blewe, with vj paines of blew & vo. of grene with a border 
of red & black Velvett, with a lyninge & Vo. peces of a Vestment of grene & 
red silke. 

All the parcels above written was delivered by the churchwardens whose 
names hereafter followeth, that is to say — James Beckwith, William Thomp- 
son of Masham, John Thexton of Healey, & Robt. Wintersgill of Fearby. 

a.d. 1596. — Paid to the Cutler of Bedell, iijs. iiij^. — when the Dyall stone 
was got up, vjc?. 

A.D. 1601. — Paid charges at Richmond when we went about the poore, 
ijs. vjc/. — at Richmond, when we went about the Recusants, ijs. xjd. to a 
Preacher, \jd. to bread and wine for the whole year, xxixs. for a whip- 
ping stocke, iijs. Spent at York, when they went about the Sequestration, 
iijs. iiije?. for lying stones flatt in the church, iiijd 

A.d. 1602. — Paid for lyinge stones flatt over the graves, ij d. 

a.d. 1603. — Paid for one new Pulpitt, xvjs. for lying stones flatt over 
the graves, \]d. 

A.D. 1605. — Paid for the King's arms, xs. for lyeing stones flatt in the 
church, viijd. Thomas Wilson, for railes and making the same, and settinge 
up the King's arms, vjs. \i\]d. 

a.d. 1608. — Paid to the Bell Founderer, for exchange of two bells. xhj7. 
for straw, iiijrf. 

A.D. 1612. — Paid for a new Table, xijs. for a new Bible and fetchying 
of it, Ivs. vjcZ. 

A.D. 1613. — Paid for a new Communion Book, vs. 

In the yeare of our Lord God 1624, the Organs in Massam Church was 
builded not by a cast lay or 'sessment, but upon gratuitie — what every man 
was willing to give — Christopher Beckwith, and William Johnson of Mas- 
ham, and John Hodgson of Fearbie, and Edward Smorthwaite of Healey, 
being Churchwardens. 

a.d. 1624. — Paid for a locke for Rerisore Dore, xiiijJ. payd to Mr, 
Stubbs, for a sermon, ijs. \]d. for blowinge of the Organs, ii\]d. 

* Surely, it is not here meant to say that one of the sacred vestments of the church was in 
pawn or pledge for 25. 

t The Front-cloth or Frontal was a square piece of linen cloth covering the altar, and hang- 
ing down from it — otherwise called a Pall. 



584 MASH AM AND MASHAMSHIRE. 

a.d. 1626. — Paid for playing on the Organs, ijs. 

A.D. 1627. — Paid for mending the church dores, and the church yeats, 
and a marriage table, and a planck for the Rerestore Chamber, iiijs. to 
Mark Hodgson, for playing on the Organs, vs.* 

A.D. 1628. — Payd to Mr. Fisher, for a sermon, ijs. 

A.D. 1629. — Paid to Mr. Turner, for a sermon, ijs. 

a.d. 1631. — Payd to Mr. Winfeld, for a sermon, iijs. vjc?. to Mr. Tur- 
ner, for a sermon, vs. 

A.D. 1632. — Paid for a new Communion Booke, viijs. vjc?. for the Article 
Booke, ijs. for paper at Bedall for writing for the poore, jc?. Our charges 
three several dayes at Bedall, concerning the poore, vs. for a Booke of 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical, xiijc?. 

A.D. 1633. — Payd when we met to appoint Sydemen, viijc?. to Mr. 
Lofthouse, for two sermons, iiijs. Payd to the Bell-founder, jx/. Payd at 
Kirby Wisk, when the third Bell was cast in charges, xjs. Charges when 
the Bell was taken down and hung up, ijs. vjc?. 

A.D. 1634. — Payd for beautifying the church, x?. for screan for the 
pulpit, and making it fast, xxjd. for playing on the Organs, vs. Jiner for 
a Beere, viijs. vjc?. to Mr. Strother, for two sermons one day, vs. 

a.d. 1635. — Paid for playing on the Organs to Noah Hodgson, js. for a 
warrant from the Justices for making a Presentment for Recusants, xijc?. 
to Thomas Bridgewater, for makeing the Rayle about the alter, j?. xiijs. iiijc?. f 
for mending the Parke pale, ijc?. to Thomas Bridgewater, for a frame to 
place the names of the Fower and Twenty in, xijc?. for a skin of parchment 
for wryting the Indenture of the Fower and Twenty to Noah Hodgson, Pish. 
Clarke, iijs. iiijc?. to Noah Hodgson, Pish. Clarke, for wryting the accounts, 
iijs. iiijc?. 

a.d. 1636. — Paid to Brian Sweeting, for making the clock, iij?. Spent 
on the clock-maker, xijc?. 

A.D. 1639. — Paid to John Pryston, for mending the Organs, £2. — Be- 
stowed on him in drynk, 2s. for the Ornaments to the Church, £6 2s. lOd. 
for mending the Ornaments, and settinge the Fryndge on, 6c?. Thomas 
Bridgewater, for removing the Desk, Is. 4c?. for a book for the King's-day, 
Is. for the book of new Cannons, Is. Given Smith, for carryinge the Pre- 
sentment to York, 4c?. 

A.D. 1641. — Paid for the book of Common Prayers, 5s. Id. 

a.d. 1642. — Paid Saxton, for gettinge Hollinge to the church, 6c?. John 
Wilson, for borrowing a cupp and flaggon, 4c?. 

A.D. 1646. — Paid for charges when we did goe to distraine in the Parish, 
8s. 

* Mark Hodgson was the eldest son of the Rev. Thomas Hodgson the curate, and was elected 
A.D. 1624, by the Twenty -Four with the consent of the Vicar, as parish clerk and organist. 

t Altar rails, as such, and as distinguished from the Chancel screen, were not known before 
the Reformation. Archbishop Laud ordered the Altar Table to be set up in the Chancel, and to 
be protected by Rails. Altar rails, shortly after this, became a mark of the hostility of the Puri- 
tans, and accordingly were everywhere destroyed by them during the Commonwealth, as appears 
by the Journal of William Dowsing, Parliamentary Visitor of Churches in the Great Rebellion. 



APPENDIX. 585 

AvD. 1647.— Paid Mr. Atkinson, for 2 sermons, 8s. 6d. 

A.D. 1649. — Paid for a distringuidge servinge, 10c?. to Mr. Browne, for 
preachinge and serving the Cure, from the first day of April, 1649, to the 
first of October after, 12/. 16s. 8c?. to Mr. Shaw, for a sermon, 6s. 8c?. In 
charges to the Bell-founder, 3s. 

A.D. 1650. — Paid to the Praisers that praises those things that was dis- 
train'd, Is. Spent when we put in the Overseers, 8c?. for going to distrain 
in the parish, 2s. for goinge to distraine with the 4 men, 2s. for a war- 
rant to distrain with, Is. Given to a Preacher's wife and 7 children, 2s. 6d, 
to a Preacher, for a sermon, 2s. 

A.D. 1651. — Paid to Henrye Crookay, for abollishinge the Kinge's Arms, 
2s. 4c?. for Aile, when the Kinge's Arms was abollisht, 6c?. for settinge up 
the Stait's Arms, 6s. 8c?. for worke and nayls about them, 4c?. for charges 
the same tyme, 4c?. to Chambers, for his help when the King's Arms was 
abollisht, 5c?. Makeinge a fraym for the Church Orders, 3s. 3c?. for writ- 
ing the Church Orders, 2s. 6c?. 

A.D. 1652. — Paid to Robert Woolley and Marmaduke Smorthwaite, for 
going to ye Justices for a warrant, 3s. 

A.D. 1653. — Paid to the fower Churchwardens, for goeing to Bedall for a 
warrant, 2s. 8c?. for the Warrant, Is. 

A.D. 1654. — Paid to Mr. Newman, for preachinge, £1. 0s. 0c?. * 

AD. 1655. — Given to a Minister, 2s. for goeinge to Bedall to the sessions, 
for a warrant, Is. for the warrant, Is. 

A.D. 1656. — Paid for Cloath, for the Saxton's gown with furniture and 
making of it, £1 2s. 2c?. to two churchwardens, for goeing to the sessions 
about the warrant, 4s. 6c?. Given to Mr. Newman in money, £1 10s. 0c?. 
to Thomas Bridgwater, for shifting the Saxton's chair, 6c?. 

A.D. 1657. — Given to Mr. Newman, by the consent of the Four and 
Twentye, 10s. Given to a Preacher and his charges, 3s. Payd to Thomas 
"Wood, the Bell-founder, for castinge and fyndinge mettall for the Great Bell, 
£18 Is. 0c?. for a warrant to distraine, Is. At the request of Mr. Beck- 
with, the 24^'e was pleased to give Veal's daughter £1 6s. 6c?., for taking 
two Pennacles down, and in charges, 2s. 4c?., for taking another Pennackle 
down, Is. 6c?. In charges, for goeinge to Tanfield to Justice Beckwith, ls.f 

A.D. 1659. — Given to a poor Preacher, for two sermons and in charges, 
lis. Given to Mr. Beckwith's man, for a warrant to distraine, 2s. Payd 
for a warrant and going for itt, Is. 8c?. 

A.D. 1660. — Paid to the Ringgers on Coronation day, 6s. 5d. to the 
churchwardens, for going into the parishe to distraine, 2s. for the King's 
Arms settinge upp, makeing a fraym and in charges about them, 15s. lOd. 
to George Oyle, for settinge uppe the Funt and other warke, 6s. 6c?. to 
Henry Gray, for one day's work at the Funt, 10c?. For Lyme to the Funt, 



* Mr. Newman was one of the Nonconformist Ministers who were put into the Church at 
Masham during the Commonwealth. 
t See ante page 357. 

UU 



586 MASHAM AND MASHAMSHIKE. 

Is. For mendinge the Funt coveringe, Is. 4 d. For the Funt roapes,* and 
payntinge stuffe to the Funt, 16s. To Noah Hodgson, for paintinge the 
Funt, Is. For culleringe the Funt again, Is. 

A.D. 1661. — Bestowed on Mr. Sanderson, for Aile when he preached, Is. 
For the hooks of Common Prayer, os. Given unto the Ringgars, on the 
29th May, 6s. 6c?. For a new Prayer to the Church, 2s. 4c?. 

A.D. 1662. — Paid for our Oaths before the Bishopp's Commissarye att 
Rippon — 8 sworne, 10s. 

a.d. 1663. — Disburst for a quart of Wyne, for Mr. Brown, 9c?. Bestowed 
upon the Painter that came with an order for beautifyinge the churche, 2s. 
For a gown for the Sexton, with trimmings and making of itt upp, £1 4s. 0c?. 
Mr. Browne sold the olde Challice for one pound and eleven shillings, and 
he had payd to itt towards the buyinge of a new Challice, £3 17s. 6c?. 

A.D. 1664. — Payed for exchaingeinge the old flaggon for a new one, 4s. 
For leade to mend the Funt with, 4c?. 

A.D. 1665. — Paid to the Painter, for paintinge the Creed and the Lord's 
Prayer, 18s. 4c?. For mendinge the Funt and Frynge for the same, 2s. 8c?. 
For a little Bell for Richard Chambers, 3c?. To Mr. Brown, for 2 Bookes 
for the Visitation, 2s. For paintinge for the Furt, 2s. 6c?. 

A.D. 1666. — Paid for goinge into the Parish to summon in the Recusants, 2s. 

A.D. 1667. — Given to a poor Preacher, Is. 6c?. 

A.D. 1668. — Paid for writing a Note, for the 24^'e to sett their hands for 
ye churchwardens to distraine, Is. Given by the consent of the 24 towards 
the Fyre at London loss, £1 0s. 0c?. . 

A.D. 1669. — Paid for writinge a Note for the Fower and Twentye to set 
their hands to distraine, Is. In charges bestow'd upon Mr. Lancaster and 
Mr. Nicelson, for preaching, 2s. 6c?. To William Beckwith and Henry 
Picker sgill goinge to Healey to distraine, Is. To Robert Glewe, for dis- 
traininge, 8c/. 

A.D. 1670. — Paid to two Churchwardens, for goeing into Burton Con- 
stablery several tymes about the distraininge of the Quakers, Is. 

A.D. 1672. — Paid for writeinge a Presentment and a note for the church- 
wardens to distraine, Is. 6c?. 

a.d. 1673. — Paid to the Sexton, for a new gowne and makeinge it upp, 
18s. 6c?. In charges when Mr. Nickolson preached, Is. In charges when 
Dr. Samwayes preach't, Is. In charges when Mr. Prockter preach't, 6d. 

A.D. 1674. — Paid for writeing a Presentment, and an order for to dis- 
traine, Is. 6c?. Bestow'd on Mr. Brown in Ayle, Is. In charges when Mr. 
Scroop preach't, Is. 

a.d. 1675. — Paid in charges when Mr. Prockter preach't at Massam, 2s. 
In charges when Mr. Dickenson preach't the first tyme, Is. 6c?. — when Mr. 
Dickenson preach't the second tyme, Is. 6c?. In charges when Mr. Sander- 
son preach't, 4s. Bestow'd in Aile upon Mr. Brown, Is. 

* It -would seem that canopy, or covering of the Font, vras, at this time, raised and lowered 
by a rope. 



APPENDIX. 587 

A.D. 1676. — Paid to Mr. Scroop for preaching, xs., and in charges, Is. 9d. 
In charges when Mr. Plaise preach' t, 2s. 8d. In charges -when Mr. Scroop 
preach't, 2s. In charges when Mr. Procter preach't, Is. 3d. 

In perpetual! remembrance to posterity, and in acknowledgment of the 
thanks of the 2#y and the parishioners of the Parish of Masham to the 
Right Honorable Thomas Lord Vycount Wentworth,* Lord Lieutenant & 
Lord President of these north parts, & one of the executors of the right 
worshipfull Elyzabeth Danby, widow, late of Pott, deceased ; & to the 
right Worshipful Roger Beckwith of Aldborough, Esquire, that it hath 
pleased his Lordship forth of the personal estate of the sayd Mrs. Danby in 
demonstration of hir charity and affection to the poore, to give £20 to the 
sayd Parish of Masham ; and that the sayd Mr. Beckwith, forth of his 
charity & zeale, hath likewise given other £20, to be disposed of by the 
sayd 24 fc y to the benefitt of the sayd poore and parish. We the said 2#y 
have this present St. Andrew day, 1629, mett together, & with one general 
consent have agreed to record in our Church Booke, the said religious & 
free gift, & have further concluded & agreed that the rents & profits thereof 
shall be forever dystributed & given to the bynding apprentyces such poore 
children, born within the Parish of Masham, as by the major voyce of 
the sayd 24*7 shall be elected with the approbation of the heyres of the 
sayd Mrs. Danby & of Mr. Beckwith & his heyers forever. Lastly, it is 
concluded by us that there shall be eight Feffees chosen, one forth of every 
Townshipp of our sayd Parish, in whose names shall be taken all assurances 
& seciirityes for these moneys, and all such other moneys as may hereafter 
be given to the same use ; and that upon every St. Andrew day next after 
the death of any of the Feffees, others shall be chosen by the sayd 24ty> 
and that the Feffees liveing shall, on St. Andrew day, make yeareley ac- 
count to the sayd 24, to whom they shall have disbursed the rents & profits 
of the sayd moneys, and shall likewise record in the Churche booke the 
names & their par'tes names of such as shall be bound apprentices with the 
somme or sommes of moneys payed for them, & every of them, and the 
tyme when & to whom, and to what trayde and place they were bound. 
In Witness whereof we have subscribed our names the day and yeare above 
sayd. Signed, Roger Beckwith, Solo. Wyvell, James Dodsworth, Chris- 
topher Beckwith |[ his mark, Jo. Beckwith, William Buckell, Thomas Jack- 
son || his mark. 

* He afterwards became the Earl of Strafford. He was the nephew of Elizabeth Danby, 
here referred to, who, as will be seen ante p. 265, died about the 10th January, 1629. 



INDEX. 



Acreage of Masham Parish, &c, 24. 

Afflick Family, 159, 282, 384, 390, 391. 

Agill-beck, 22. 

Agriculture, 59, 142, 143, 144. 

Aiskew near Bedale, 44, 471. 

Akarius, Fitz Randolph, 12, 233. 

Alan, Earl, 18, 44, 64, 65, 71, 208, 209; 
Alan Niger, Earl, 209; Alan Rufus, 
Earl, 12, 18, 44, 208, 209, 469, 470, 
471, 472, 473. 

Albini, De, Family of, 72, 210, 211, 
319, 320, 322, 323; Nigel de, 72, 210, 
319, 320, 473; Roger de, 320, 323; 
Samson de, 319, 321, 530. 

Aldbbrough, 8, 21, 40, 41, 42, 54, 63, 
65, 67, 68, 189, 210, 387, 388, 389, 
471, 472, 473, 478, 509, 513; Near 
Boroughbridge, 18, 67, 137. 

All-fool's day, 464. 

Alms-houses, 192, 444, 446. 

Alterage, 330. 

Altar-rails, 359, 584. 

Alward, John, 482. 

Alwent, Parson of Wensley, 21. 

Ancient Customs, 458. 

Anne of Warwick, 15. 

Anne of Boleyn, 97, 344, 345. 

Anduid, 471. 

Antiquity, Remains of, 424. 

Apprentices, Charity for, 448, 454, 587. 

Arnagill, 7, 22, 175. 

Archill, Lord, of ILton, 57, 470. 

Armitage, Francis, Esq., 45, 124. 

Arundell, Earl of, 11. 

Ascoughs, 11, 121, 288, 289, 297, 513; 
Bishop of Salisbury, 298. 

Ash -head, 512. 

Ash- Wednesday, 463. 

Assessment of Masham Parish, &c, 
24, 25, and Addenda. 

Ayreman, William de, 326. 

Aysgarth Force, 20. 



B 



BAAL or Bel, 37; Baal-hill, 37; Baal- 
bank, 38; Baal Ings, 38; Baal Fire, 
38. 

Badgers, 58. 

Bainbridge, 20, 40. 

Baines, John (surgeon), 394. 

Balderby, Sir John, 332, 539. 

Bagtrout, William, 500. 

Baptisms in Masham Parish, 27. 

Bartletts of Nutwith Cote, 287, 288, 
401, 454; Dole, 454. 

Batt v. Watkinson, case of, 33, 413, 
415, 416. 

Battle of the Standard, 42, 72, 73, 212; 
of Hastings, 55, 209; of Flodden 
Field, 89, 101. 

Battley, Jeremiah, 394; John Lodge, 
394, 398; Charles Harrison, 394. 

Bayles, Christr. (a Priest), 116. 

Bears, 57, 58, 59. 

Beckwith, Sir Roger, 65, 389; Samuel, 
389; John, 389; William, 389, 398; 
Huntingdon, 387; Roger. 386, 387, 
587; Marmaduke, 386; Arthur, 386, 
387; Thomas, 386, 389; Matthew, 
334, 356, 357, 584; Family, 508. 

Bedale, 11, 471; Poor-Law Union, 36. 

Bedill, The Rev. Thomas, 329, 538. 

Bedford, Duke of, 500. 

Beldin-gill, 37. 

Bells (Church), 365, 366, 582, 583, 584. 

Bere, John, 328. 

Bernulf, 471. 

Birk-gill Beck, 22. 

Bishop Blaize, 465. 

Bishopsdale, 20. 

Black-gutter Beck, 22. 

Blois-hall, 39. 

Blandford, Lord, Act of, 31. 

Bloreheath, 15, 80. 

Blythe, The Rev. John, 329. 

Boars, 57. 



INDEX. 



589 



Bodin, 471. 

Bolland Family, 406, 407, 408. 

Bolton Castle, 16, 224. 

Boroughbridge, 19, 20. 

Bourne, or Burn River, 21, 64. 

Bourne-holme, 22. 

Bourne-bridge, 22, 64, 546. 

Boundaries, 22. 

Bow-bearer, 45. 

Bowes, Sir Geo., 100, 102; Family, 

399, 400. 
Bowett, The Rev. Henry, 328. 
Boulton, The Rev. Thomas, 333. 
Boniface de Salucis, 324, 325, 538. 
Bray, Mr. (his Tour), 157. 
Bramley Grange, 11, 472. 
Bracchium, 40, 41. 
Brathorne, 68, 219. 
Breary-banks, 21. 
Bridgewater, Dr., 118. 
Brig-with-Wath, 473, 474. 
Brian, Fitz Alan, 11. 
British Remains, 38, 41. 
Brown-beck, 22. 
Browne, The Rev.,' Benjamin, 135, 

333, 334, 356, 357, 583, 584, 585. 
Brownriggs, 120, 476, 477. 
Bridges, 63. 
Brian, Reginald, 326. 
Brown, The Rev. Jonas, 334, 583. 
Bruce, The Rev. David, 336 
Bruce, Edward, Lord, 23, 120. 
Bruce, Thos., Earl of Ailesbury, 23, 

477; Edward, Lord, 476. 
Buhere, De, Family of, 211, 214, 217, 

218, 219, 531. 
Bull-baiting, 58. 
Bucktrout, Sir fm, 332. 
Burrill, The Rev. Joseph, 336, 368, 

396, 433, 437. 
Burton, Low or Little, 111, 189, 342, 

478, 505. 
Burton, High or Great, 111, 120, 189, 

389, 480, 505. 
Burton, Manor of, 43, 44, 47, 59, 61, 

64, 342, 471, 475, 482. 
Burton-mill, 182, 474, 493. 
Burials in Masham Parish, 27. 



C 



Cade, Jack, 11. 
Caldberg, 473. 
Camps, 42, 68. 
Catterick-bridge, 40. 
Cataractonium, 40. 

Catterick, Edmund (a Priest), 116, 
117. 



Cardinal, Andoin Aubert, 326; Wil- 
liam De Aigref euille, 327 ; of Pales- 

trina, 327. 
Carnebull, Henry, 329. 
Carter, Edwd., Esq., 392, 393. 
Carter, The Rev. John Abraham, 336. 
Canute, 471. 

Catherine of Aragon, 97, 329, 345. 
Catherick, Anthony (of Stanwick), 

113. 
Celtic Remains, 38, 424, 425. 
Census Returns of Masham Parish, 

&c. 27. 
Churchwardens, 33; Church Rates, 

24, 25, 33, 416, 545; Churchwardens' 

Accounts, 409, 410, 411, 412, 580. 
Challoner, Wm, 121. 
Challoner, Bishop, 118. 
Chivalry, 70. 
Charities, 432. 
Chantries, 346. 
Chase, 47, 124, 472, 488. 
Christmas, Customs at, 461. 
Charters for Markets and Fairs, 517, 

518, 519, 520. 
Church of Masham, 308, 341, 342, 343, 

355, 359, 370, 378, 379, 380, 381; 

Spire, 360, 363, 370, 371, 378. 
Civil Wars, 16, 126, 127, 128, 393. 
Clifton Castle, 10, 20, 295, 386, 471, 

475, 487, 493, 505. 
Clare Roger, or Bogo de. 323, 324, 

330, 533. 
Clynt, The Rev. William, 332. 340, 

341, 534. 
Clyfton, Sir John, 332 ; Gilbert de, 

479, 480 ; Reginald de, 482. 
Clement, Mr., 335. 
Clock (Church), 361, 363, 367, 376, 

580. 
Colsterdale, 11, 21, 22, 23, 66, 67, 68, 

220, 476, 477, 481, 487. 
Coal Mines, 66, 144, 157, 487. 
Comb Manufactory, 63. 
Conyers, Christr., of Hutton, 113. 
Cooke, Patrick, 333, 360. 
Cooper, James, 346. 
Copyhold Court at Masham, 392. 
Collop Monday, 462. 
Cormond, Theobald, 324. 
Cornwall, Edmund, Earl of, 18. 
Cospatric, see Gospatric. 
Cottern-hill, 20. 
Council of the North, 22, 105, 108 ; 

of Constance, 341. 
Court Baron and Court Leet, 47. 
Court of Wards and Liveries, 109, 

122 
Court'Rolls, 514, 515, 516. 



590 



INDEX. 



County Election, 141, 161. 

County Courts, 35. 

Coverham, 12, 346. 

Coverdale, 473, 476. 

Covenant, Solemn League and, 354, 

355. 
Craven, 15. 

Cranmer, 97, 344, 345, 346. 
Croft, Eoger, Esq., 45. 
Crosses, Stone, 112, 310. 
Crow, Alexander (a Priest), 114. 
Crusades, 72. 
Cuitt, Geo., 151, 405. 
CyseU, Richard, 482. 



D 



D'Arcy, Baron, 42, 238; The Honour- 
able James, 42. 

Danby Pedigree, 244: Sir Christopher, 
22, 23, 49. 90, 92, 253, 254, 382; Mar- 
gery, 90, 91; Sir Christopher, 90, 91, 
103, 104, 105, 106, 121, 122, 253, 
254, 475; Sir Thomas, 104, 107, 122, 
123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 

136, 137, 262, 271; Thomas (Esqr.), 
45, 50, 52, 109, 121, 136, 264, 277, 

278, 385; Christopher (Esq.), 109, 
119, 120, 121, 136, 260, 266, 268, 

279, 544, 550; James, 120; Marv, 
385; John, 121; Marmaduke, 122, 
262; Robert, 266, 553; Abstrupus 
(Esq.), 123, 140, 141, 281, 360, 372, 

373, 383, 384; Sir Abstrupus, 136, 

137, 138, 139, 280, 361, 383; Wil- 
liam, 23, 141, 143, 144, 282, 364, 

374, 384, 385, 390, 391, 392, 436, 
437; Elizabeth, 391. 

Danes, 18, 54, 55, 69. 

David Conmore, 54. 

David Bruce, King of Scotland, 73. 

Dale, The Rev. John, 335. 

Dean and Chapter of York, 34, 330, 

339, 345. 
Deer, 57, 59. 
Den-beck, 22. 

Derivation of the name of Masham, 4. 
Description (local), of Masham, 6. 
Derby, Edward, Earl of, 23, 475. 
Dial (Church), 411, 412. 
Dissenters and Dissenters' Chapels, 

199. 
Dodd-fell, 19. 
Donewald, 471. 

Dodsworth, Mr. (Watlass), 117. 
Dorset, Lord, 113. 
Domesday Survey, 42, 43, 469. 
Drin, John, son of, 44. 



Driffield, 137. 
Druidism, 36, 39, 425. 
Dunbar, 56. 
Dundas, 56. 

Dudley, Richard, 329; George (D.D.), 
333. 



E 



Easter Offerings, 331. 

Easter Sunday, 463. 

East Witton, 22, 23, 106, 473, 474, 476. 

Ecclesiastical Court of Masham, 110. 

Edward IV., 14. 

Edwin, Earl, 56, 71, 206, 209, 469. 

Eldred, 470. 

Elections, Parliamentary, 35, 140, 160, 
161. 

Egerton, Charles, 125, 126. 

Ellingstring, 22, 219, 220, 342, 478, 
481, 482, 490, 492, 493 ; Township, 
24, 25, 28, 35, 36. 

Ellingtons, High and Low, Township 
of, 24, 25, 28, 35, 36, 342, 482, 490, 
493; Manor of, 43, 54, 108, 220, 
469, 475, 478, 481; Chapel, 110, 111, 
189, 331. 

Epitaphs, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 
388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 
395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 
402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 540. 

Ernegis, 470. 

Etymology of Yore, 17. 

Extent and Population, 22. 



F 



Fairs, 50, 51, 158, 517, 518, 519, 520. 
Fairfax, Sir Thos., 23. 
Falconbridge, 15. 
Fancy Fair at Swinton Park, 197. 
Favell, The Rev. William, 333, 334. 
Fearby Township, 24, 25, 28, 35, 36, 

108, 111, 220, 346 ; Manor of, 43, 

470, 475, 478, 482, 490, 493, 505. 
Fearne, The Rev. Henry, 333, 334, 

353, 562. 
Feudal System, 69. 
Firby, Manor of, 470. 
Fisher, Charlotte Marian k 379, 401. 
Fish, 22. 

Fitz-Hugh, 8, 233, 341, 494, 504. 
Fitz- Randolph, 9, 14, 91, 540. 
Fitz-Alan, Brian, 11. 
Fitz-Ralph, Robert, 13. 
Fitz-Randolph, Sir Ralph, of Spenni- 

thorne, 91. 



INDEX. 



591 



Fors, in Wensleydale, 12, 209. 

Forest of Masham, 43, 44, 47, 472, 
475, 488. 

Ford, Anthony, 333. 

Font (Baptismal), 367, 380, 586. 

Fountains Abbey, 11, 19, 61, 62, 64, 
65, 67, 68, 109, 111, 210, 212, 215, 
217, 219, 472, 473, 478, 479, 482, 
492, 507. 

Four-and-Twenty of Masham, 24, 25, 
32, 33, 357, 361, 362, 372, 373. 411, 
412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 
421, 423, 582, 584, 586, 587. 

Fountains Earth, 36. 

Foxes, 57, 58. 

Foumarts, 58. 

Free Warren, 48, 49, 220, 472, 517. 

Free School, 375, 434, 435. 



G 



Gas Company, 198. 

Gelly, The Eev. Paul, 335. 

Gernegans, 8. 

Gin-pit peck, 22. 

Gloucester, Kichd., Duke of — See 
Eichd., Duke of. 

Gollinglithe-foot, 21, 64. 

Gospatric, 4, 55, 56, 69, 469, 470. 

Good- Friday, 463. 

Gresham, Sir Eichd., 68. 

Grewelthorpe, 63. 

Grammar School, 375, 434, 435, 436. 

Grey stock, Ealph, Lord, 504; Eliza- 
beth, 504. 

Grandison, John, De, 325. 

Grimesgill-beck, 22. 

Gundowder Plot, 119. 

Gyll, The Eevd. Thos., 333. 



H 



Backfall, 20, 151. 

Hallikeld, 39. 

Hang East Division, 35. 

Harcourt Family, 391; Earl of, 391, 

Countess, 391; Admiral, O. V. 29, 

186, 187, 284, 436; Anne, H. D. 29, 

186, 284, 436. 
Hardcastle Family, 392, 393, 394; 

William, 392, 393, 394, 399; John, 

392; Miss*, 393. 
Hardraw Scaur, 19. 
Hartwith, 541. 
Harrison Family, 398. 
Hawes, 19. 
Hayshaw-moor, 67. 
Healey Parish, 28; Church, 29, 33, 



189; Township, 24, 25, 28, 35, 36; 

Cotton-mill, 22, 62; Manor, 38, 108, 

220, 478, 482, 490, 493; Healey 

Baals, 37. 
Hedley, The Eev. Thos., 333, 378. 
Hell-becks, 19, 20. 
Hemp or Flax-mill, 63, 164. 
Henry VIII., 92, 93, 96, 97, 106, 344, 

345, 346. 
Henton, John De, 482. 
Heslington, Wm., 437. 
He wick, 21. 

History of Mashamshire, 36. 
Hodgson, The Eev. Thomas, 334. 550, 

584 ; Mark, Eevd., 334, 335 ; Noah, 

584, 585, 586. 
Hopham, Hugh de, 220, 481, 482, 484, 

486; Joan de, 483, 484, 485, 486. 
Horner, The Eev. John, 335; Nicholas 

(of Grantley), 116. 
Horsman, The Eevd. Gilbert, 134, 

333, 351, 352, 549, 560, 561; Leon- 
ard, 333. 
House-gill-beck, 22. 
How-gill-beck, 22. 
How-hiU, 40. 

Hutchinson's Dole, 451, 453. 
Hutton Family, 289; Dr. Matthew, 

113, 290, 293; Eichard, 23; John 

T. D'Arcy, 42, 66, 296, 388, 434, 471; 

Timothy, 176, 297, 434. 
Humber, 18. 



Ibbetsox, Julius Cassar (the Artist), 

369, 395, and Addenda. 
Ilton-cum-Pott Township, 24, 25, 28, 

35, 36, 108, 514; Charitv, 453; 

Manor, 43, 54, 57, 61, 470, 475, 478, 

482; Moor, 22. 
Hkley, 40, 67. 

Inclosure of the Commons, 162. 
Ingleby, Francis (a Priest), 114. 
Ingram, Arthur, 141, 384 ; The Eev. 

Goodrick, 333, 363. 
Inns, 51. 
Introduction, 1. 
Iron-mines, 66, 220. 
Isurium, 40, 



Jackson, John, 23; Practical Fly 
Fisher, 23. 

Jenkinson, The Eev. Leonard, 335, 360. 

Jerveaux Abbey, 11, 12, 17, 20, 21, 66, 
67, 104, 209, 212, 219, 220, 474, 476, 
478, 479, 480, 482, 487, 492. 



592 



INDEX. 



Johnson, Peter (Recorder of York), 

23. 
Jore, 17. 
Jurisdiction (Local), 28. 



K 



KAY, Christr., 385. 

Kershaw, The Revd. Richd., 333, 367, 

368. 
Kell-bank School, 183, 436. 
Kilgram Bridge, 21, 40, 63, 473, 476. 
King's Arms, 359, 369, 582, 583, 585. 
King's Charity, 453. 
Kinwoldmersh, 328, and Addenda. 
Kirkby-Malzeard, 10, 23, 211, 212, 

213, 256, 319, 320, 356, 368, 475, 

537, 541, 542. 
Knaresborough, 18. 
Knights' Templars, 478, 479, 480, 539. 
Knubley, Johnnie, 453. 



Lacy, Robert de, 324, 538. 

Lambert, Symnel, 82. 

Lancaster, Christopher, 333, 542, 585. 

Latimers, Lord, 9, 254, 255. 

Laton, John, 575. 

Lawson, The Revd. Wm., 333, 368, 

374. 
Lead, and Lead Mines, 67. 
Leeming Lane, 40, 42. 
Leighton, Sir John de, 332. 
Leighton, 21, 111, 189, 481, 493. 
Leland, John (the Antiquary), 20, 63, 

106. 
Lent, 463. 
Lennox, Matthew, Earl of, 22, 104, 

105, 106. 
Ley burn Poor- Law Union, 36. 
Levite, a young, 291. 
Library, Subscription and Parochial, 

375. 
Liberty of Richmondshire, 34, 35; of 

St. Peters, 36. 
Limits of Masham Parish, 24 ; of 

Townships, 24, and Addenda. 
Lincoln, Lord, 82. 
Local Jurisdictions, 28. 
Lochart, Thos., Esq., 384. 
Lockwood, Mr. (a Priest), 117. 
Lonsdale (of Masham), Family of, 

306, 307, 389, 398, 399. 
Lords of Mashamshire, 201 . 
Loe, The Rev. W., 233, 566. 
Low-gill Beck, 22. 



Low Fors in Raydale-side, 3. 
Lovel, Lord, 81, 82. 
Lumley, Lord, 89. 
Lyster, Anne, 576. 



M 



Maines Farms, 163. 

Malleverer, Wm., 121. 

Magisterial business, 35. 

Mackie, Sir Patrick, 65, 

Malcolm, Conmore, 56. 

Marmions, 8, 479. 

Mary Queen of Scots, 16, 100. 

Marriages in Masham Parish, 27, 408. 

Marriage Licenses, 34. 

Marriages (Smock), 408, 409. 

Mar-field, 40, 55, 63, 163, 426. 

Markets, 50, 51, 517, 518, 519, 520. 

Manorial Courts, 36. 

Markenfield, Thos., 98, 100; Sir 

Ninian, 101. 
Markenfield Hall, 100, 125, 126. 
Marshalling of the Richmondshire 
men at the Battle of Flodden 
Field, 89. 
Martin, Dr., 113. 
Marsden, Mrs., 396, 452; Charity, 

452. 
Masham Manor, 43, 54, 470, 475, 477, 
478, 481, 482, 490, 493, 505; Town- 
ship, 24, 25, 28, 35, 36, 108; Parish, 
24, 25, 28; Church, 43, 134, 135, 
136, 183, 218, 308, 319, 348, 349, 
530, 531, 532, 534, 535, 536, 539; 
Bridge, 63. 
Mashamshire, 43, 91, 136, 137, 140. 
Maud, Empress, 73. 
May- Gosling day, 464. 
Mechanics' Institute, 194, 378. 
Mell- Supper. 464. 
Merland, Adam, 332. 
Metcalfe, Richard (Artist), 369. 
Middleham, 13, 14, 20, 21, 81. 
Middlesmoor, 539, 542, 581. 
Mills, 60, 61. 
Moon, Abraham, 138. 
Moises, The Revd. Edward, 333, 365, 

366, 367. 
Montf ord, Sir John de, 332, 539. 
Morton Family, 397. 
More, Thomas, 328, 341. 
Morcar, Earl, 56. 
Monasteries, Dissolution of, 93, 94, 

95. 
Morals of the People, 130, 377, 409. 
Mowbray, Roger, 10, 18, 44, 47, 59, 
61, 65, 69, 72, 73, 209, 210, 211, 218, 






INDEX. 



593 



319, 320, 472, 473, 474, 475, 478, 

480, 481, 488, 530, 531: John, 327; 

Camp, 68; Watli, 54, 69, 476. 
Munby, The Rev. Jos. B., 336. 
Mundy, Charles J. H., Esq., 90, 243, 

244. 
Museum at Swinton Park, 164. 
Music (Church), 369. 



N 



Neville Family, 9, 14, 92, 122, 217, 
263, 328; Lady Mary, 14, 263, 480; 
Robert de, 14; Ralph, 14, 217, 263; 
John, Lord, 14; Richard 2nd Lord 
Latimer, 92, 122, 254, 577; John 
3rd Lord Latimer, 92, 96, 108, 255; 
Sir John (of Liversedge), 104, 256; 
Dorothy, 9 ; George (Prebendary of 
Masham), 328; George (D.D., Mas- 
ter of Well Hospital), 577. 

Newburgh Priory, 320, 321. 

Newman, John, 333, 335, 585. 

Nidderdale or Netherdale, 38, 51, 65, 
67, 89. 

Nigel de Albini, 72, 210, 319, 320, 473. 

Norfolk, Duke of, 16, 100. 

Northallerton, 72, 73, 318. 

Northumberland, Henry Percy, Earl 
of, 87, 98, 101. 

Norton, Richard (the Rebel), 92, 98, 
100, 255; John, 116; William de, 327. 

Norman, 469, 470. 

Normanville, Ralph de, 478, 479, 482; 
Sir William, 499. 

Nosterfield, 41, 89, 493. 

Nutwith, 6, 23, 40, 42, 54, 65, 68, 213, 
219, 474, 475; Camp, 42, 68, 213; 
Cote, 63, 64, 65, 287, 288, 289, 471, 
507. 

Nunnery in MarfLeld, 55, 164, 426. 



O 



Off ord, Andrew de, 326. 

Order in Council (15 Jan. 1849), 29, 

30 31 32. 
Organ, 370, 374, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584. 
Osborne, Sir Edwd., 125, 126, 127. 
Otteringham, Sir Alan de, 332. 
Ouse, 18, 20. 



Pallaser, Thos. (a Priest), 116, 
Pancake-Tuesday, 463, 



Parker, Edward Lord. Morley, 119, 

268. 
Parliamentary Army, 16. 
Parr, Catherine, 9, 92, 96, 255. 
Passing-Bell, 460. 
Pateley Bridge, 67, 581. 
Paulinus, 43, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 

315, 318. 
Peacock of the North, 14. 
Peculiar Court of Masham, 34, 337, 

538, 539, 542. 
Peterson, Robert, 329. 
Percies, 87, 101. 
Pews, 371, 372, 373. 
Perambulations, 464. 
Pilgrimage of Grace, 96, and Addenda. 
Pibus, John (a Priest), 116. 
Pinckney, Francis, 121. 
Picture Gallery at Swinton Park, 164. 
Pigot, Richard (Sergeant-at-law), 

342, 535; John, 342, 381, 382; Joan, 

342, 381, 382, 505, 540. 
Piatt, The Revd. George M., 336, 

380. 
Poor Laws, 36. 

Poor Lands, in Coverdale, 448. 
Poll-book of the County Election 

(A.D. 1741), 141. 
Pole, Family of De la, 224. 
Population and Extent, 22, 26. 
Popish Recusants, 109, 544. 
Pott Grange, 11, 36, 61, Q5, 68, 109, 

119, 121, 124, 385, 481, 510, 511, 

512, 587. 
Pott-beck, 22. 
Potteries, 68; Potter's Pit, 68; Potter's 

Field, 68. 
Prebend of Masham, 36, 321, 322, 323, 

345, 392, 531, 532, 536, 539. 
Prebendaries of Masham, 323, 324, 

325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 343. 
Prockter, Anthony, 333, 334, 356, 357, 

586. 
Princess Margaret's Marriage, 88. 
Provident Institutions, 200. 
Pulleine, James, Esq., 471. 
Pullyn, Joshua, of Nidderdale, 113. 
Puritans, 133, 134, 135, 136, 310, 351, 

352, 353, 358, 584. 



Q 



Quakers, 131, 586. 
Quarry-gill, 7, 171, 172, 173, 174. 
Quarter Sessions business, 35. 
Queen Elizabeth, 97. 
Quo Warranto, proceeedings in, 525, 
526, 527, 528, 529. 



594 



INDEX. 



R 



Raby, Lords of. 14. 

Eadcliffe, Rogerj 328; The Rev. R., 335. 

Ranulph, son of Robert Fitz-Ralph, 13. 

Ralph Fitz-Randolph, 14. 

Rateable Value of Mashani Parish, 

&c., 24, and Addenda. 
Recusants, 109, 544. 
Reformation, The, 92, 93, 94, 97, 131, 

132, 310, 344, 346. 
Restoration, The, 129. 
Reid, The Rev. John, 335. 
Register Books, 408. 
Ribald, 13. 

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 14, 15. 
Richard III., 14, 15. 
Richmondshire, 20, 34, 35; Militia, 

16. 
Richmond, Earls of, 11. 
Richard, de Hedona, 65. 
Riddell, The Revd. Thomas, 34, 195, 

333, 376. 
Riding the Stang, 465. 
Ripley's Rent-charge, 452. 
Ripon, 11, 20, 21, 63, 81, 89, 100, 103. 
Rising of the North, 98. 
Rivers, Brooks, and Becks, 17. 
Roads, 151. 
Romans, 39. 
Roman Remains, 8, 40, 41, 42, 67, 68, 

164, 428, 429, 430; Roman-ridge, 

40. 
Roomer, 65, 68, 472, 474. 
Roman Catholics, 113, 114, 115, 116, 

117, 118, 346, 349, 350. 
Roundheads, The, 129, 133. 
Roos, John, 328. 
Roger-cross, 475. 
Royal Oak Day, 464. 
Rydall, The Rev. Francis, 333. 



Saes't Wilfrid, 11. 

Saint Clement's Well, 164. 

Salisbury, Earl of, 14, 15, 80, 225. 

Sanctuaries. 347, 348. 

Sadler, Sir Ralph, 97. 

Samson de Albini (Rector of Mas- 
ham), 319, 321. 

Savage, The Rev. Francis, 333. 

Save. The Revd. Peter, 333, 360, 361, 
362. 

Savings' Bank, 200. 

Sayer, Francis (Marrick Park), 113. 

Saxon Remains, 43, 309, 430; Saxon 
Villages, 57, 



Scotch Rebellion, 141. 

Scots, 54, 55, o&, 57, 73, 88, 89, 90. 

School, Grammar, 432; Free, 182,432; 
Kell-bank, 183; Mrs. A. D. Har- 
court's, 192, 441. 

Scropes, Lords of Masham, 10, 48, 79, 
80, 91, 138, 221, 227, 230, 231, 234, 
235, 236, 238, 240, 242; Archbishop, 
14, 96, 216, 232; Jeoffrey le, 48, 50, 
66, 67, 73, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 
486, 487, 488, 490, 499 ; Stephen le, 
49, 50, 73, 493; Sir William, 74, 22] , 
223, 225; Sir Henry, 74, 75, 490, 
491, 492, 494, 500; Sir Stephen, 74; 
John, Lord, 495, 499, 501, 504; Sir 
Thomas, 80, 505; Thomas, Lord, 87; 
Henry 7th Lord, 88, 89, 90; Ralph, 
Lord, 90, 569; Geoffrey, Lord, 90, 
227, 506; Margery, 90; Elizabeth, 
91; Alice, 91. 

Scrope, Lord of Bolton, 84, 227. 

Scrope, Francis (of Danby), 113. 

Scruton, 137. 

Seymour, Catherine, 390, 391; Henry, 
391. 

Siward, Earl, 4, 53, r 55, 470. 

Simmerwater, 19. 

Singleton, William, 68, 109. 

Sheep-shearing, 464. 

Shunor FeU, 19. 

Shirborne, Sir Richd., 23; Robert, 23. 

Ship-money, 124, 125. 

Shirwood, The Rev. John, 328. 

Shaws Bridge, 22. 

Skell, River, 21. 

Slea-gill, 22. 

Smurthwaite (of Nutwith Cote), 287. 

Snape, 9. 

Snape, Sir Robert, 333. 

Snow, Peter (a Priest), 116. 

South Cave, 109. 

Sole Beck, 22. 

Sowden Beck, 23, 476, 477. 

South Kilvington Church (Font in), 
220 221 222. 

Sower'mire, 64, 68, 108, 219. 

Stacy, The Rev. John, 327, 540. 

Stott, The Revd. Edwd. Nicholson, 
336. 

Stratton, Robert de, 327. 

Strangwayes, Sir James, 91. 

Strafford, Earl of (see Wentworth). 

Sunday School, 375. 

Superstitions, 409. 

Swale, The, 18, 313, 314, 315. 

Swinton-with-Warthermarsk Town- 
ship, 24, 25, 28, 35, 36, 108, 474, 
513; Manor of, 43, 65, 109, 137, 
217, 470, 475, 482; Bridge, 22; 



MH 



INDEX. 



595 



Mill, 22, 62, 64; Swinton Park, 40, 

129, 138, 150, 163. 
Swine, 46, 47, 59; Swineherd, 46, 59; 

Swinegarth, 46, 60. 
Swinney-beck, 22, 53. 
Sywardthorpe, 53, 54, 470, 475. 



Talbot, John, 116. 

Tanfield, 8, 20, 21, 41, 63, 313, 359. 

Tankard, Wm, 23. 

Terry, Wm., 158. 

Theakston's " British Angling Flies," 
22. 

Thirkill, Jane, 397, 452; Thirkell's 
Charity, 452. 

Thornbrough-moor, near Tanfield, 39, 
41. 

Thornton Steward, 42, 318, 480. 

Thorney Grane, 67. 

Thorpe Perrow, 137. 

Thwaites, Eobert, 332. 

Tithe Commutation of Masham Par- 
ish, &c., 25, 26. 

Tipping's Dole, 450. 

Tolls of the Markets and Fairs, 51, 
52, 121. 

Topcliffe, 98, 101. 

Torchill, 469, 470, 471. 

Tori, 471. 

Tournaments, 70. 

Trinity College, Cambridge, 26, 36, 
330, 339. 

Tuistlebroc, 53, 470, 475. 

Tutbury Castle, 16. 

Twiss, Dr. Travers, Opinion of, 33. 



U 



tJFFORD, John de, 326. 

Ulshaw Bridge, 42. 

Upton, 471, 475. 

Ure, or Eure, 17, 42, 63, 183, 314. 

Urus, 17. 

Uxbridge, Treaty of, 353. 



Valentine-day, 462. 

Valuation of Masham Parish, &c, 24, 

25, 370, and Addenda. 
Vicarage of Masham, 330, 331, 375, 

376, 533, 539, 541; Vicars, 332, 333. 
Visitations, 340. 
Volunteers, Mashamshire, 176, 199; 



Vote of thanks to, 181; Song of, 
177; Dales' Volunteers, 177; Mus- 
ter-roll of, 178. 



W 



Waddincton, The Eev. G., 333, 374, 

375, 376. 
Waddesley, Eobert, 500. 
Wainwright, The Eev. William, 335. 
Wakes for the dead, 341, 342. 
Walker, The Eev. John, 332 ; Eow- 

land, 389 ; Doctor, 389. 
Waltheof, 54. 
Wars of the Eoses, 79. 
Wandesford, Christr., 122, 123, 271, 

272. 
Wards and Liveries, Court of, 109, 122. 
Warwick, Eichard, Earl of, 14, 263. 
Warthermarsk, 514. 
Watling- street, 40. 
Wath, 41. 

Watlass, 42, 117, 137, 386, 505. 
Waterworks, 198. 
Wath, Sir John (Curate), 341. 
Wauton, John de, 48, 49, 50, 66, 69, 

214, 219, 220, 475, 477, 478, 480, 

481, 482; Gilbert de, 67, 219; 

Family of, 219, 220, 221, 222. 
Waxwid, Eichd. de, 61; John de, 482. 
Welde, The Eev. Joseph, 333, 358. 
Welles, The Eev. Cornelius, 333, 543. 
Well, 9, 40, 41, 42, 357, 471, 475. 
Wells, Eichd. de, 482, 483. 
Wensley, 20, 21, 63, 224; Wensley- 

dale, 19, 20, 21, 57. 
Wentworth, Sir Thomas, 123, 124, 

128, 129, 265, 271, 385; Elizabeth, 

385, 587. 
Westmoreland, Earls of, 14, 98, 263; 

Charles, Earl of, 98, 100. 
Wettenhall, The Eev. William, 335. 
Whitsuntide, 464. 
Widdale Fell, 19. 
William the Conqueror, 13, 42. 
Wild Cats, 57, 58; Bulls, 57. 
Wills and Letters of Administration, 

34. 
Willyford, William de, 329. 
Wiltshire, Earl of, 225. 
William le Gros, 42. 
Wolves, 57. 

Wolsley, Cardinal, 159. 
Wooton, Philip, 370. 
Wrather's Family, 394, 395, 396; 

Charities, 452. 
Wright's Gift, 453. 
Wycliffe, Wm., 23. 



596 



INDEX. 



Wylde, The Rev. John, 332. 

Wyvell, Jane, 111, 544, 555; Kobert, 
342, 505, 544, 582; Solomon, 120, 582; 
Sir Marmaduke, 259, 381, 382, 386, 
388, 540, 544, 569, 571; Christo- 
pher, 569; Margaret, 573. 



Yaeburgh, G. J., Esq., 471. 
Yarworth, the Eev. W. V., 336. 
Yorke, Lady, 455. 



Yore, 17, 42, 63, 183, 314 ; Flood of, 

183. 
York, 18. 

York, Mayor and Corporation of, 84. 
Yorkshire Election, 159. 
Young, Arthur, 142, 143, 144. 
Yoxhall, Sir William, 332. 



Zetland, Earl of, 56. 



THE END. 



RIPON ; PRINTED BY A. JOHNSON AND CO., MARKET-PLACE. 



ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA. 



Page 24. — The correct acreage of Masham Parish, according to the Ordnance 
Survey, is as under, viz. : — 

ACRES. 
Township of Masham ... ... ... ... 2347 

„ Swinton-with-Warthermarsk 1967 

„ nton-cum-Pott ... ... ... 2310 

„ Fearby ... ... ... 890 

„ Healey- with- Sutton ... ... ... 4993 

„ Ellingtons, High and Low... 1790 

„ Ellingstring ... ... ... ... 429 

„ Burton-upon-Yore ... 2288 



Total acreage of Masham Parish 



17,014 



The Rateable Value of the several Townships within the Parish, as 
ascertained by the Assessments Committees for the present year, 1864, under 
the " Union Assessment Committee Act, 1862," is as under, viz. : — 

Township of Masham 

„ Swinton-with-Warthermarsk 

,. Ilton- cum- Pott 

,, Fearby 

„ Healey- with- Sutton . 

„ Ellingtons, High and Low 

„ Ellingstring 

„ Burton-upon-Yore 

Total rateable value of the Parish 

Page 25. — The mode of laying the Church-rate here mentioned, has been 
recently abandoned, for the reasons mentioned in the text, as being incorrect. 

Page 33. — The opinion of another counsel having been obtained upon the 
subject, which coincided with my views as expressed in the text, the Four and 
Twenty are now acting upon it, and such of the members of the Four and 
Twenty as were residents within the new Parish of Healey have resigned their 
offices, and their places have been filled up by others resident within the 
Parish of Masham. 

Page 49. — In the sixth line dele "he" 

Page 57. — In the top line dele the words " his brother Morcar." 

Page 80. — In the sixth line from the bottom dele "it seems." 

Page 89.— In the third line dele " in Scotland." 



£ s. 


d. 


... 3950 





... 1847 





... 1358 





... 1079 10 





... 2303 15 





... 1772 15 





... 438 





... 1953 5 





£14,702 5 






ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA. 

Page 96. — According to " Walbran's Memorials of Fountains Abbey," pages 
272, and 329, not only Sir Christopher Danby, the then Lord of Mashamshire, 
but a great number of the Mashamshire men, took part in the Rebellion of 
"The Pilgrimage of Grace." Mr. William Stapleton (who was one of the 
Captains of the Insurrection) in his confession says, " On a Wednesday, about 
Michaelmas day then last passed [the 29th Septr. 1536] there came to the 
garth or Court of the Abbey of Jerveaux — about five miles from Middleham, 
— two or three hundred of the Inhabitants of Mashamshire" and then 
proceeds to describe the acts of violence which they then committed. Strange 
as it may seem, yet it is not the less true, that Sir Christopher Danby not only 
escaped punishment for the part which he had taken in the Insurrection, but 
was actually the Foreman of the Grand Jury on the trial of the parties 
implicated in it. 

Page 110. — In the bottom line for " occupied by Mr. Charles Lee, but now 
by Mr. Jefferson " read "occupied by Mr. Henry Jeff, but now by Mr, Mason 
Verity." 

Page 192, — In the top line for "Swire" read "Squire," 

Page 2-18. — In the ninth line from the bottom begin a fresh line with the 
words " He married secondly, Mary." 

Page 287. — From the Mary Norton mentioned in the ninth line is descended 
John Yorke, Esq., the present owner of Bewerley. — See Grainge's Nldderdale, 
page 49. 

In the seventeenth line after "Richard Norton" add "who married 
Margaret, daughter and heiress of Francis Hall, of Worsall, Yorkshire, and 
by her had issue." 

Page 288, — Margaret Bartlett was Leonard Fothergill's second wife. His 
first wife Elizabeth died 1st November, 1694, and was buried in Masham 
Churchyard. 

In the last line but one in the Text, for " John Ascough " read "Thomas 
Ascough," 

Page 297. — Timothy Hutton, Esq., of Clifton Castle, died at Clifton Castle 
on the 17th of November, 18G3, and was succeeded in the Clifton Estate by 
James Pulleine, Esq., of Crakehall. 

Page 307.— In the thirteenth line from the bottom, for " B.D." read " D.D." 

Page 328. — William Kinwoldmersh, mentioned in the fourth line from the 
top, was Treasurer of England, 

Page 333. — Gilbert Horsman, B.D., was born at Kirkby Malzeard, and was 
a Fellow of University College, Oxford. He was installed Vicar of Masham, 
and Kirkby Malzeard, in 1603, and died 4th June, 1638, aged 75 years, after 
having been Vicar of Masham 36 years. 

William Favell was born A.D. 1559, at Burnsay, in Craven. He became 
Curate of Masham A.D. 1591, and died 7th July, 1624, and was buried in the 
Chancel of Masham Church. 

Page 334. — Thomas Hodgson was born at Ingerthorp near Ripon, and was 
Reader of Divine Service, and Schoolmaster, at Kirkby Malzeard. He entered 
into Priest's Orders, and into the Curacy of Masham, in August, 1623. 

Mark Hodgson was also born at Ingerthorp, A.D, 1611. He was Reader of Divine 
Service, and Schoolmaster, at Kirkby Malzeard, under the Rev. Gilbert 
Horsman, B.D. He entered upon the Ciu*acy of Masham on St. Mark's Day, 
15 Charles I.. A.D. 1639. and died in October, 1679. 



ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA, 

Page 336. — At line 17, for "John Carter Swire" read "John Carter Squire," 

For the Eev. Munby read " The Eev. Joseph Edwin Mmiby." 

Page 339, — In the twenty-third line, between the words "in" and "law" 
insert the word "the." 

Page 393. — In the fourteenth line, for "Edward Carter, Esq." read 
" Christopher Carter, Esq." 

Page 404. — It appears by a memoir of Ibbotson, attached to the second 
edition of his "Accidence, or Gamut, of Painting in Oil," published after his 
death, viz., in 1828, that he was the son of Richard Ibbotson, and that in con- 
sequence of the death of his mother by a fall upon the ice when she was pregnant, 
he was brought into the world on the 29th December, 1759, by the Caesarian 
operation, hence his name of " Julius Caesar," the first name being after the 
name of his maternal grandfather, and the latter name from the manner of 
his birth. He received the first part of his education from the Moravians (of 
which body his father had been a member) and afterwards, on his father's 
removal to Leeds, at the Quaker's School in that town. Having from his 
earliest years evinced a decided predilection for painting, his father 
apprenticed him to Mr. John Fletcher, a ship painter at Hull. At eighteen 
years of age, on his master retiring from business, he went to London, where 
he spent several years in the painting of pictures, for a picture-dealer, and 
thereby acquired considerable knowledge of pictures, especially those of the 
Flemish and Dutch Schools. In 1780, he married, but his wife died in 1794, 
leaving him with two sons and a daughter. In 1788, he went out as draughts- 
man to an Embassy to China, with The Honourable Colonel Cathcart, in the 
Vestal Frigate, Captain Sir R. J. Strachan. His Ambassador having died on 
the passage out, and as no successor could be appointed, the vessel returned 
immediately to England, and Ibbotson lost his whole year's wages, which 
plunged him into pecuniary difficulties. To compensate him, however, for his 
loss and disappointment, his friends procured for him an offer of an 
appointment in Lord Macartney's Embassy to China, but Ibbotson could not 
be induced a second time to accept such an engagement. After undergoing 
many hardships on account of his pecuniary embarrassments he quitted 
London in 1798, when he visited the Lakes of Westmoreland, at which 
place, in the following year, he fixed his residence.* In June 1801, he 

* According to "Notes and Queries," (Vol. viii. of New Series, page 96) there is a local tradition 
that whilst Ibbotson was residing at Ambleside, he used often to ramble as far as the 
picturesque valley of Troutbeck, which is about four miles from Ambleside, to indulge in the 
double enjoyment of the sweet scenery around, and the " home brewed" within the humble 
ale-house there ; and that in acknowledgment and commendation of the latter, he painted a 
sign with two faces, each "looking the character" admirably, the one being that of a stout, 
jolly-faced toper with rubicund nose, and the other that of a thin, white-faced, lantern-jawed 
chap, the veritable picture of a modern teetotaller, and with labels from their mouths thus 
inscribed : — 

"Thou mortal man, who liv'st by bread, 
"What is it makes thy nose so red ? " 
And, 

" Thou silly oaf with nose so pale, 
It is with drinking Birkex'S ale." 

The Painting has been supplanted by its title in plain letters " The Mortal Man," but the 
old people say that they still remember it, and that they admired it, and that it is now 
preserved in Carlisle. 






ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA. 

married, for his second wife, the daughter of Mr. William Thompson, of 
Windermere, who was very much his junior in years. In 1803, he was 
plunged into deeper embarrassments, in consequence of a heavy pecuniary loss, 
which he at this time sustained through the defalcations of a supposed friend. 
This loss, however, was somewhat compensated by the circumstance, that about 
this time he fortunately had commissions for pictures from Earl Buchan, Sir 
Henry Nelthorpe, and several others, amongst whom, the late William Danby, 
Esq. ought to be mentioned. It was in consequence of this latter gentleman's 
liberal and extensive commissions for pictures, that Ibbotson was induced to 
leave his beloved retreat in the Lake District, and to settle at Masham. At 
Masham he was much employed by the gentlemen in the neighbourhood, and 
this, with commissions from London and elsewhere, occupied the remainder 
of his life. In 1817, whilst engaged in painting a favourite hunter for Lady 
Augusta Milbank, he took a cold which settled upon his lungs, and terminated 
his existence on the 13th October, leaving a widow and a daughter, the latter 
of whom is said to have inherited her father's talents for sketching, &c. 

Page 409. — The Book alluded to in the fourth line from the bottom of the 
text, has since been recovered and restored to its proper custody. — Copious 
extracts from it will be found in Appendix F, page 580. 

Page 417. — Add to the last Note " It would appear, however, by some entries 
in the Old Book above alluded to, that during the Commonwealth, and after 
the functions of the Ecclesiastical Court had been put an end to, or suspended, 
but not before, Church rates were in some instances recovered from defaulters 
by distresses upon their goods — in the first instance, evidently by the authority 
of a Warrant of Justices, and probably afterwards, and in course of time, by 
what was called a Warrant of the Four and Twenty themselves, but which was 
in point of fact no warrant at all, but a mere undertaking on the part of the 
Four and Twenty to indemnify the Churchwardens from loss, in case of any 
distresses they might make for Church rates, for copies of such supposed 
warrants are still in existence. The mere circumstance of the Churchwardens 
requiring such indemnities from the Four and Twenty, shewed that they 
considered their right to make such distresses to be but doubtful. Probably 
the practice of the recovering of Church rates by distresses upon the goods, 
had its origin in an Ordinance of Parliament made during the Commonwealth, 
dated 8 November, 1644, by which all persons were enjoined to pay all kinds 
of Tithes and Church duties, and in default thereof, it authorized two Justices 
to summon the offenders before them, and to grant warrants authorizing the 
constable to distrain, and sell the offender's goods." 




